GALESBURG, Ill. (Nov. 9, 2019) – Overcoming a double-digit halftime deficit, the North Central College women's basketball team outscored Knox College by 20 points in the second half to score a 77-67 victory in the season opener on Saturday inside Memorial Gymnasium.

A slow start saw North Central (1-0) shoot just 20 percent from the field in the first half to trail 31-21, but the Cardinals came roaring back after some halftime adjustments to outscore the Prairie Fire (0-1), 29-11 in the third quarter.

The comeback started with three-consecutive three-pointers to begin the second half, as Allison Pearson and Maya Walls hit from deep on back-to-back possessions, while Pearson again connected from beyond the arc to pull North Central to within three, 33-30.

After Knox countered with a three-pointer from Saxon Alvarez, Natali Dimitrova knocked down a short jumper before another three-pointer, this one off the hand of Alanna Newsome to narrow the deficit to just one.

Walls hit one of two free throws on the next possession to tie the game 36-36, before Newsome gave the Cardinals their first lead since the 5:02 mark of the opening quarter with her second long ball of the quarter.

North Central closed out the third quarter holding a 50-42 lead, shooting 5-for-7 from three-point range, while Lyndsay Brennan scored eight points over the final three minutes including 6-of-6 from the free throw line.

Another three-pointer from Pearson opened the Cardinal lead to 11 to begin the fourth quarter, proving to be the largest lead of the contest while North Central held the lead over the course of the final 10 minutes to close out the double digit win.

North Central shot 53 percent (8-of-15) from beyond the arc in the second half, as Pearson finished 5-for-10 from outside, tallying 20 points on the evening. 

Assisting on 16 of their 21 field goals, the Cardinal offense was led by a career-high 23 points from Brennan, shooting 6-of-11 from the field and 10-of-12 from the free throw line to go along with a team-leading nine rebounds and three assists.  Newsome also finished in double figures with 13 points while also tallying three assists.

Knox was led by Jarrelyn McCall's 18-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Nyah Daniels added 14 points and Alvarez finished with 10 and a game-high five assists.

North Central returns to the court on Tuesday, Nov. 12, traveling to Notre Dame, Indiana to take on Saint Mary's College with tip-off slated for 6 p.m. (ET) inside the Angela Athletic & Wellness Complex.

Download the free North Central Cardinals app, available for iOS and Android devices, to receive up-to-the-minute news, scores and updates on your favorite North Central teams. Click HERE for more information.