Carthage 80, Elmhurst 77
KENOSHA, Wis. - The Carthage women's basketball hosted the Elmhurst Bluejays in the first round of the 2026 CCIW Women's Basketball Tournament on Tuesday evening in Tarble Arena. It was a tightly contested battle from opening tip to the final buzzer as the Firebirds came away with the win and advanced to the CCIW semifinals. 



Sierra Gibson got the Bluejays on the board first with a pair of free throws, but a three from Nora Ahram would quickly give the Firebirds a 3-2 lead. The two teams traded baskets through the first half of the quarter, with the score tied at 13-13 with 4:06 left in the period. A 7-2 run for the Firebirds, led by five points from Malia Green, gave the Firebirds a 20-15 lead at the end of the quarter. Ahram led the Firebirds with six points in the quarter.

Delaney Elsmore hit a three pointer to open the second quarter and extend the Carthage lead to eight points. A free throw from Grace Cord extended the lead to 24-15, before a 7-0 run for the Bluejays cut the Carthage lead to two points with 7:51 left in the half. A layup from Green and a tip in from Alyssa Orozco boosted the lead back up to six points, but another 6-0 run for the Bluejays tied the game at 28-28 with 4:43 left in the half. A three from Jessie Pakaski put the Firebirds back in front before a buzzer beater three from Anna Kleszynski would tie the game at 36-36 heading into the break. Ahram continued to lead the Firebirds with nine points in the first half.

Kristen Bukata opened the second half with a layup to give the Bluejays a 38-36 lead which was quickly answered by a layup from Cord. A pair of threes from Orozco and a three from Ahram boosted the Firebirds to a 47-38 lead with 6:50 remaining in the third quarter. The Bluejays clawed their way back again after a technical foul against Carthage led to a five-point play for the Bluejays, bringing the Bluejays back within three points of the Firebirds. The game was tied late in the third quarter and a last second layup for Natalie Robinson gave the Bluejays a 63-61 lead heading into the fourth quarter. 

Kleszynski got the scoring started for the Bluejays in the fourth quarter, doubling the team's lead at 65-61. A layup from Orozco and a three from Ahram quickly erased the deficit and gave the Firebirds a one point lead. The two teams traded the lead back and forth before tying the game at 71-71 with 4:40 to play. A jumper from Ahram and a layup from Pakaski would give the Firebirds a four point lead with 3:21 to play. The Bluejays worked back within a point of the lead, but strong shooting at the free throw line allowed the Firebirds to hold the lead until the final buzzer. 


 

• Nora Ahram - 20 points*, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals
• Alyssa Orozco - 16 points, 8 rebounds*, 2 assists
• Grace Cord - 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
• Malia Green - 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals*, 2 assists
• Delaney Elsmore - 10 points, 4 assists*, 4 rebounds

*led team in stat category







The Firebirds (15-11, 8-8 CCIW) will return to action in the CCIW semifinals against the No. 2 seed Illinois Wesleyan Titans on Friday, Feb. 27 in Waukesha, Wis. at the Carroll University Van Male Fieldhouse. Action begins at 5 p.m. and will be streamed live on the CCIW network. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.