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

Box Score

WHEATON, Ill. (Jan. 9, 2016) – Held to its lowest point total of the season, the North Central College women's basketball team trailed by just two in the fourth quarter but never eclipsed the lead over No. 17 Wheaton College, falling 78-67 on Saturday evening at King Arena.
 
North Central trailed 62-56 with just over eight minutes to play in the fourth quarter but drew to within two as a pair of Michaela Reedy free throws and a lay-in from Aaliyah Johnson shrunk the Wheaton lead 62-60 with 6:55 to play in the contest.
 
That proved to be as close as the Cardinals' would come to overcoming the Thunder deficit, as Wheaton (10-3, 2-1 CCIW) countered with seven straight points over the next to minutes to increase its lead back to nine, 69-60. 
 
Wheaton opened up a double-digit lead with just over three minutes to play and held North Central to just two field goals over the final five minutes of the contest.
 
North Central (7-7, 1-2 CCIW) held the lead three separate times but never by more than one point, as the Cardinals' final lead came with 6:15 to play in quarter number three, but a 8-2 Wheaton run quickly vanished the Cardinal lead.
 
The Thunder dominated the glass all evening, holding a 70-49 lead while three individuals finished with double-digit rebounds.  The Cardinal offense was held to a season-low 22 field goals, while also being held to a season-low 27 percent shooting from the field.
 
Jamie Cuny was the lone Cardinal to finish in double-figures with 11 points and a game-high five blocks.  Paula Zerante added eight points to go along with a team-high seven rebounds and three assists.
 
Wheaton's Jennifer Berg led all scorers with 16 points to go along with 10 rebounds, while Hannah Considine also finished with a double-double, adding 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
 
North Central returns home on Wednesday, Jan. 13, playing host to Augustana College at 7 p.m.  Links to live coverage available HERE.