DUBUQUE, Iowa -- The North Park University women's basketball team closed play in 2019 and its non-conference schedule with a split at the 2019 Loras College Christmas Tournament, falling to the home-standing No. 23 Loras College Duhawks on December 29, 97-67, before bouncing back to defeat the Lawrence University Vikings, 77-63, on December 30 inside Lillis Court.   

Game One: Loras 97, North Park 67 

In the first half, the Vikings could not contain the Duhawks lighting-quick offensive attack. The closest the Vikings got to taking the lead was with three minutes left in the first quarter when the Vikings trailed by three at 13-10.  Loras led 20-13 going into the second quarter as the Vikings attempted to close the gap. 

With the score 39-19, sophomores Lauren Lee and Emily Czuhajewski helped spark an 11-0 run, making the score 36-30.  However, the Duhawk defense held the Vikings to just a free throw the rest of the half as the Vikings trailed, 44-31. Loras shot an impressive 44% from the field in the half.   

Halftime: Loras 44, North Park 31 

The second half was dominated by an impressive scoring onslaught from Loras, leading by as much as 34 points. 

Loras shot a solid 58% from the field in the second half to go on to defeat North Park, 97-67.

Final: Loras 97, North Park 67 

Game Two: North Park 77, Lawrence 63  

Lawrence cruised at the beginning of the first quarter, marking the first 10 points until Czuhajewski hit a three-pointer making the score 10-3.  Despite Lawrence's fast start, North Park outscored Lawrence, 13-11, through the rest of the quarter but still trailed, 21-16, after one quarter of play. 

In the second quarter, North Park started hot from the field as they tallied the first six points. With the score 23-22 in favor of Lawrence, North Park jumped out to a six-point lead when Lee, and sophomores Jayla Johnson and Josie Summerville all marked a pair of baskets.

In the last two minutes of the second quarter, Lawrence marked seven of the last nine points. However, the Vikings held on to a 33-32 lead going into halftime. 

Halftime: North Park 33, Lawrence 32 

The entire third quarter was neck-and-neck as both teams could not grasp a lead more than three points. 

North Park edged Lawrence in the third quarter, 18-17, shooting 50% from the field and 12-for-13 from the free throw line to hold a narrow lead at 51-49.

The fourth quarter was an entirely different story.  After Lawrence and North Park traded baskets to start the fourth quarter, NPU scored nine-straight points to distance themselves from Lawrence at 62-52.  Senior Angelina Villasin totaled four points and junior Sinead Molloy added three points in that run. 

North Park continued to extend their lead later in the fourth quarter as they led by as much as 16 points the rest of the wat to defeat Lawrence, 77-63.  

Final: North Park 77, Lawrence 63 

Quick Hits:

• Lee set a new career high with 19 points in the win against Lawrence, adding 12 points against Loras

• Johnson followed Lee with 11 points against Loras and 10 points against Lawrence

• Molloy scored a season-high 13 points against Lawrence

• Summerville led the Vikings with nine rebounds against Loras and Lee grabbed seven rebounds against Lawrence

• North Park's 77 points against Lawrence marks the highest total of the season for the Vikings.

• Lee was the lone Viking selected to the 2019 Loras College Christmas Tournament's All-Tournament team. 

What's Next?  

The Vikings (10-2, 3-0 CCIW) continue their lengthy road trip in the new year with a stop in Bloomington, Ill. to face the Titans of Illinois Wesleyan University on Wednesday, January 8. Tipoff inside the Shirk Center is set for 7 p.m. 

--NPU--