Thanks to Virginia Smith for the pictures
CHICAGO, Ill. -- The NPU women's basketball team faced the University of Chicago Maroons on Saturday, marking the Vikings' toughest matchup to date in the 2021-22 season.
A trip to the free throw line in the 1st quarter helped Jayla Johnson continue to etch her name into school history, moving into the top 10 all-time scoring list. She would go onto lead North Park in scoring with 27, finishing the game as NPU's ninth-leading scorer. More importantly, her and her team got the victory in a 73-64 contest.
Baskets were tough to come by in the first half as both teams shot just 32% from the floor. However, good marks from the free throw line (8-9 for NPU, 11-12 for U-Chicago) helped each side maintain solid efficiency overall. North Park was entirely in control through the 1st, holding a consistent lead before U-Chicago found their rhythm on the tail end of the period and carried the momentum into a back-and-forth 2nd quarter. By halftime, the game was tied at 28 with Jayla Johnson and Klaire Steffen leading their respective teams with 8 points each.
Similarly to the 1st quarter, NPU established an early lead in the 3rd and didn't waver. Turnovers were down for both teams, contributing to a slower tempo and limited opportunities in transition. Likewise, North Park had less opportunities at the free throw line in the 2nd half, making just two free throws before U-Chicago began to intentionally foul to stop the clock. Despite the free throw woes, the Vikings shot much better from the field in the 2nd half at a 15-28 clip, bringing their overall FG% to 42.9 on the game. The Maroons were not able to make the same jump in efficiency between the 1st and 2nd halves, ultimately leading to the final score.
Quick Hits:
- Johnson a menace everywhere - 27 points, six steals, blocked a shot, 11-for-13 from the field
- Emily Czuhajewski totals 15 points, including a pair of threes
- Four assists, nine boards, and a pair of steals for Chantel Hairston
- Six rebounds forJosie Summerville and Johnson
What's Next?
The Vikings' next opponent is Carthage, the first conference opponent of the season. North Park will be the home team when they matchup on Wednesday, December 8th at 7:00 pm.