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Contact: Drew Sauer, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. (Jan. 24, 2014) – The North Central College women's basketball team CONTINUES  to set new program standards this season, downing North Park University, 95-90 on Saturday, improving to 17-1 this season, the program's winningest season in 30 years.

The 22^nd-ranked Cardinals (17-1, 6-1 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) have posted the program's winningest season since the 1983-84 team finished 26-4, as North Central needed a second half comeback to defeat the Vikings (10-8, 2-5 CCIW) after surrendering a double-digit, first half lead.

The two teams traded leads early on until a pair of Jamie Cuny three-pointers gave the Cardinals a 19-14 lead at the 15:03 mark in the opening half.

North Central claimed its largest lead of the contest with 2:14 to play before the intermission, as Maryssa Cladis and Anita Sterling each knocked down a pair of free-throws on consecutive possessions, giving the Cardinals a 46-34 advantage.

After North Central took a 48-42 lead into halftime, The Vikings mounted a second half comeback, slowly chipping away at the Cardinal lead and hold a 85-83 lead with just 3:06 to play in the contest.

Not to be denied the victory, the Cardinal offense took over the final three minutes as a Kimberly Wilson long ball tied the contest at 85 to get the rally started, while the Cardinals knocked down eight free throws down the stretch and held the Viking offense to only two field goals in the waning minutes to secure the 95-90 victory.

Jamie Cuny paced the Cardinal offense with a career-high 21 points, to go along with a team-high eight rebounds and three blocked shots.  Corrine Rowe added 17 points and three assists, while Tess Godhardt finished with 11 points and seven boards.

North Park's Nicole Kruckman led all scorers with 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Soly Roman also recorded a double-double, finishing with 20 points and 12 boards.

North Central continues conference play on Wednesday, Jan. 28, traveling to Millikin University with tip-off slated for 7 p.m.