NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Feb. 9, 2022) - Taking on the top team in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), the North Central College women's basketball team took Millikin University down to the wire and earned a hard-fought overtime victory, 70-69. An Elle Sutter free throw with 0.2 seconds left in the overtime period lifted the Cardinals past the Big Blue.

Natalie Stavropoulos scored four points in the first two minutes of play before Mitrese Smith score in the paint to push North Central ahead, 6-5. After each team traded baskets, Jessica Kowalczyk sparked a 7-0 run giving the Cardinals a 17-12 advantage 10 minutes into the game.

The Cardinals' defense held Millikin scoreless for the next six minutes of play as Sutter put North Central on top 24-14 with 3:42 left in the half. The Big Blue climbed back into the game with an 8-2 run to put the score at 26-22 at the break.

Allison Pearson hit her first three of the game early in the third quarter to give the Cardinals a five-point lead, 31-26 with 7:36 to play in the quarter. Millikin knotted the contest at 35 and took a six-point edge to end the third quarter on a 10-4 run.

Smith scored a layup followed by a three-pointer from Stephanie Kowalczyk to bring North Central within one, 45-44. The Cardinals regained the lead with 7:20 to play in regulation on a mid-range jumper from Smith. Both teams went back and forth as a jumper from Sutter tied the game at 57 with 1:08 to go. Each team scored three points in the final minute to take the game into overtime.

North Central entered tonight 0-2 in overtime contests but took a three-point advantage after Pearson hit two free throws and Stavropoulos split a pair. With 2:29 to play, Pearson put the Cardinal up by five, 66-61. Millikin quickly tied the game at 66 before Pearson knocked down two more free throws. Elyce Knudsen and S. Kowalczyk each split a pair of free throws to knot the game at 69 apiece. 

Millikin missed a layup and a contested jumper with five seconds left to go. Sutter grabbed the Big Blue miss and raced down the court to draw a foul with less than a second to play. After missing the first free throw, Sutter clutched up and hit the second to give the Cardinals a 70-69 win over Millikin.

Eight Cardinals scored five or more points, led by Pearson with 15 and eight rebounds. Smith added 10 points with Sutter falling a point shy of a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds. Bailey Coffman tallied 24 points for Millikin to lead all scorers.

North Central celebrates senior night on Saturday as they host Carroll University. Senior Night festivities will begin prior to tip-off at 5 PM inside of Gregory Arena.