NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Dec. 6, 2023) - Leading the entire 40 minutes of gameplay, the North Central College women's basketball team jumped out to a 10-2 lead and never looked back on the way to a 53-46 victory over Carthage College on Wednesday night inside Gregory Arena. This marks the fourth Cardinal win in the last five matchups against the Firebirds.

Jocelyn Trotter opened the game with a layup in the first possession of the contest. A Megan McClure basket in the paint sparked an 8-0 run for North Central. Carthage battled back to make it a two-point game at the end of the first quarter, 12-10. 

North Central scored the first three field goals of the second quarter as Jovanna Martinucci and Trotter made their layup opportunities. Joslyn Simmons-Doxie knocked down the game's first three-pointer to put the Cardinals ahead by nine, 23-14. Grace Kieffer made a fastbreak layup after a steal to bring the halftime score to 25-19.

Carthage scored on the opening possession, but Trotter answered with a jumper to keep the Cardinals in the lead. Following a North Central timeout and the Firebirds knotting the game at 29, Trotter scored in the paint before Kaeli Ford hit a clutch deep ball to keep the momentum in the Cardinals' favor. Elle Sutter, making her first appearance of the season, scored a layup as North Central held a slight 38-35 advantage heading into the final quarter of action. 

Ford and Megan Duffy scored quick baskets to begin the fourth quarter as the teams traded buckets until Trotter took advantage of a Martinucci steal to score a fastbreak layup, putting North Central ahead by eighth, 50-42. Trotter, Kieffer and McClure made free throws down the stretch to clinch the 53-46 victory, the first conference win of the season for the Cardinals.

Trotter led all scorers with 17 points and five rebounds. McClure added nine points, nine rebounds, and three steals. In total, the Cardinals tallied 15 steals while dishing out 15 assists. Both teams shot an identical 32.8% from the field. Marianna Morrissey led the Firebirds with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

North Central hosts No. 22 Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday, looking for the first win over the Titans since 2021. That game is set for 5 p.m. inside Gregory Arena.