Photo credit: Paige Wilcox

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The North Park University women's basketball team defeated the Belles of Saint Mary's (IN), 71-59 inside the North Park Gym on Wednesday afternoon. The win keeps the Vikings' record perfect at 5-0, their best start since the 2012-13 season.

The Vikings paced play at the beginning of the first quarter, scoring eight of the first 10 points highlighted by senior guard Angelina Villasin's fast-break layup. 

Shortly after sophomore guard Emily Czuhajewski made two three-pointers to extend the Viking lead to 17-12.  The Vikings ended the first quarter marking the last seven points to go up 24-12.  

First Quarter: North Park 24, Saint Mary's 12

After the Belles scored the first three points in the second quarter, junior guard Lauryn Alba Garner drove a fast-break layup and Czuhajewski buried another three to push the Viking lead to 29-15.  Czuhajewski rounded out her second-quarter scoring with her fourth three of the game making the score 34-22 Vikings.  

The Vikings ended the second quarter outscoring the Belles 8-6 and led by a score of 44-31 going into the half.  Czuhajewski led the Vikings with 12 points and sophomore guard Lauren Lee and junior guard Sinead Molloy followed with six points. 

Halftime: North Park 44, Saint Mary's 31

The Vikings and the Belles played a very even start to the third quarter.  Saint Mary's scored seven of the first 12 points the Vikings still held a double-digit lead at 49-38.  After a three-minute scoring drought, sophomore forward Jayla Johnson made a jumper making the score 51-38.  After the Belles made a layup, junior guard Zakiya Newsome and Czuhajewski knocked down threes making the score 57-40.  

Czuhajewski buries her fifth three-pointer of the game

After the Vikings and Belles traded three-pointers, Saint Mary's tallied three points of the last five points as the Vikings took a 62-46 lead going into the fourth quarter.  Czuhajewski led the Vikings with 15 points and Molloy followed with nine.  

Third Quarter: North Park 62, Saint Mary's 46 

The Belles paced the beginning of the fourth quarter, marking six of the first seven points to close the gap to 63-52. However, after a North Park offense stalled in the fourth quarter, the Vikings sealed their victory by scoring six of the last eight points, defeating the Belles 71-59. 

Final: North Park 71, Saint Mary's 59 

Quick Hits: 

• Czuhajewski led the Vikings with 15 points on 5-for-7 shooting beyond the arc
• Newsome followed with 10 points
• Molloy tied a career high with five steals
• Johnson led the Vikings with five rebounds
• The Vikings are off to their best start since the 2012-13 season when they started 8-0

What's Next?

The Vikings (5-0) step into CCIW play traveling to Waukesha, Wis. to take on the Pioneers of Carroll University on Wednesday, December 4.  Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

--NPU--