North Central (Ill.) 70, Carthage 66
NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The Carthage women's basketball team opened conference play on Wednesday evening on the road against the North Central College Cardinals. The Firebirds controlled the lead for most of the game, but a late surge from the Cardinals led to a road loss for Carthage.



The Firebirds jumped out to an early 5-2 lead with a three-point basket from Alyssa Orozco and a layup by Nora Ahram. An 8-0 run quickly gave the Cardinals a 10-5 lead with five minutes to play in the quarter. An and-one layup and free throw from Mallory Winters cut the deficit to two points before a three from Delaney Elsmore and layups from Ahram and Grace Cord put the Firebirds back in front 15-12. The two sides traded points in the final minute of the quarter and a last-second three from Orozco gave the Firebirds an 18-16 lead to end the period. Orozco led the way with six points for the Firebirds in the quarter.

The Cardinals opened the second quarter with a layup from Kennedy Hartwig to tie the game at 18-18. A layup from Orozco put the Firebirds back up 20-18 with 8:21 to play in the first half. The two teams continued to trade baskets before a three from Malia Green built up the Carthage lead to 28-22 with 3:55 to play in the quarter. A 6-0 run for the Cardinals tied the game at 30-30 with 22 seconds left on the clock. A late basket from Jessie Pakaski broke the tie and gave the Firebirds a 32-30 lead at halftime. Orozco led the team with 11 points in the half.

Cord got the scoring started in the third quarter with a layup to extend the Carthage lead to four points. After a Cardinals layup from Biz Daly, the Firebirds went on a 6-0 run to bring the score to 40-32 with seven minutes to go in the third. A basket from Daly ended the run, but back-to-back scores from Green and Cord extended the lead to double digits halfway through the quarter. A pair of threes for the Cardinals quickly brought the deficit down to six points. The Cardinals battled back within four by the end of the quarter, trailing 54-50. Winters led the Firebirds with eight points in the quarter.

Orozco scored on a layup to start the fourth quarter, which led to Carthage and North Central trading baskets over the following four minutes. The Firebirds held a 62-58 lead with 5:23 to play, and a pair of unanswered scores for the Cardinals tied the game at 62 with 2:52 to play. Cord scored on a layup to put the Firebirds back on top but a pair of free throws from Dolly Smith and a layup from Daly put the Cardinals in the lead 66-64 with 1:22 to go. A jumper from Green temporarily tied the game at 66-66 with 41 seconds left in the game, but four North Central free throws would clinch the victory for the hosting Cardinals.


 

• Alyssa Orozco - 15 points*, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks
• Grace Cord - 12 points, 8 rebounds*, 2 assists, 2 blocks
• Nora Ahram - 6 points, 5 assists*, 1 steal
• Malia Green - 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
• Mallory Winters - 15 points, 7-9 FG*

*Team high




"We know every night in the CCIW is going to be a battle," said Head Coach Megan Jones. "We played a great 30 minutes but allowed them to become the aggressor in the final 10 minutes. We started to play on our heels and North Central got more aggressive the more they sensed that. We have to put all 40 minutes together and we know we are capable of that. [We] Have to bounce back quickly for Carroll on Saturday."



The Firebirds (4-4) return to Tarble Arena on Saturday, Dec. 6 as the Firebirds host Carroll (Wis.) at 2 p.m. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.