ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst College women's basketball team rallied from a seven-point deficit in the final 4:39 to topple North Central College 68-63, ending a four-game slide with the victory.

Elmhurst (10-13, 5-7 CCIW) trailed 62-55 with just 4:39 to play, but the Bluejays outscored North Central (8-15, 4-8 CCIW) 13-1 for the remainder of the game to earn the victory. Meghan Merklein started the rally by knocking down a jumper while being fouled in the process. She converted the three-point play to cut the Cardinals' lead down to just four points with 3:55 left on the clock. 

After a North Central miss, Megan Ney hit a driving lay-in to bring the Bluejays to within two points. Merklein knotted the score at 62-62 after scoring on a wide-open lay-up off of a feed from Ney.

North Central recaptured the lead on its next possession as Christine Karl split a pair of free throws to put the Cardinals up 63-62. Elmhurst went back on top when Megan Ney buried a jump shot from the foul line with 1:48 left. After a miss by the Cardinals, Ney hit a running lay-up in the paint to give Elmhurst a 66-63 cushion with 1:19 left to play. 

The Cardinals had a chance to cut into the lead with under a minute to play, but Jackie Errico missed a lay-up and a bonus free throw after being fouled while grabbing the rebound. Kelsey Monroe sealed the win for Elmhurst by draining a pair of free throws with 28 seconds left. 

The first half was filled with fouls, as the two teams combined to shoot 34 free throws. North Central led 29-27 at the half, despite hitting just five field goals 

Ney led Elmhurst and all scorers with 18 points, shooting 8-of-13 from the floor. She totaled a season-high 15 rebounds to collect a double-double in the victory. Merklein totaled 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists in the win. Stephanie Mitchell came off the bench to total 10 points and seven rebounds while Monroe added 10 points, six rebounds, and three assists.

North Central was led by Sophie Newson's 17-point, eight-rebound performance. Helen Muleya added 14 points while Jenny Swanson and Karl totaled 13 points apiece. Errico, the Cardinals' leading scorer, was held off the scoreboard while playing in only 12 minutes due to foul trouble.

Elmhurst travels to Wheaton College on Saturday, February 19.