Photo credit: Paige Wilcox

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The North Park University women's basketball team came back from a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat the Carroll University Pioneers, 70-65, inside the North Park Gym on Wednesday night.  

At the beginning of the first quarter, both teams started slowly as there were only a total of 12 points scored in the first five minutes. North Park held a small lead, 7-5.  

In the quarter, sophomore forward Jayla Johnson scored 10 points of the Vikings' 16 points, but North Park trailed 21-16.

Neither team could muster any offense for the first three minutes of the second quarter until Carroll's Sierra Grubor sent in a jumper. The Vikings then struck back with an and-one layup by Johnson, closing the gap to 23-19.

However, the Vikings only scored seven points in the second quarter to trail at halftime, 32-22.  Johnson led the team with 14 points in the half.  

Halftime: Carroll 32, North Park 22

The Vikings came out of the locker room marking eight of the first 10 points, cutting the Pioneer lead to 34-30.  Johnson marked six points during that run. 

Moving to a score 40-37 in Carroll's favor, sophomore guard Emily Czuahjewski buried a deep 3-pointer to tie the score at 40. 

Tied at 42 after both teams marked successful trips to the free-throw line, a layup by junior guard Sinead Molloy gave the Vikings their first lead of the game, 44-42.

Junior guard Lauryn Alba Garner marked the final five points for the Vikings in the third quarter to propel North Park to a 49-44 lead. The Vikings outscored the Pioneers 27-12 in the third quarter.  

In the fourth quarter, after Carroll sent in a 3-pointer, sophomore center Josie Summerville scored a layup and junior guard Zakiya Newsome marked a 3-pointer to extend their lead to 54-49.

With 21 seconds left in the game and the Vikings up 67-63, Molloy sealed the win for the Vikings with a clutch 3-pointer as North Park defeated Carroll, 70-65

Final: North Park 70, Carroll 65

Quick Hits

• Johnson picked up her sixth double-double of the season, leading the Vikings with 24 points and 12 rebounds
• Newsome followed Johnson with 10 points and five rebounds, adding a game-changing six steals
• The Vikings shot 40% from beyond the arc

What's Next? 

The Vikings (17-4, 10-2 CCIW) welcome the Thunder of Wheaton College to the North Park Gym on Saturday, February 8. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.

--NPU--