CHICAGO, Ill. -- The North Park women's basketball team picked up their first CCIW win of the season on Wednesday night, besting the Carthage Firebirds 73-64 in their last home game of the year.
North Park was lights out in the first quarter, racking up 27 points off 9-for-15 (60.0%) shooting from the field, 3-for-4 (75.0%) from beyond the arc, and 75.0 % (6-for-8) from the line. Despite the Firebirds' efforts netting 21 points of their own on 52.25% (9-for-16) shooting from the field and 3-of-4 from the line, the Vikings set the tone early with a 27-21 first quarter lead.
Production slowed in the second quarter for both teams but North Park maintained control, outscoring the Firebirds 15-10. This was largely thanks to the Vikings' defense holding Carthage to a 2-for-11 mark (18.18%) for the quarter. North Park took a 42-31 lead into the locker room at half, with all the wind in their sails.
Carthage came out of the half ready to play as they brought their shooting percentage back up to 46.67% (7-for-15) and made their first two three-pointers of the game. The Vikings began to struggle making just 3 out of 11 shots from the field. North Park capitalized on free points, however, going a perfect 5-for-5 at the line in the third.
Entering the fourth quarter with a narrow 55-48 lead, the Vikings faced relentless pressure from the Firebirds, who managed to tie the game twice; first at 58-58 and then again at 64-64 with less than a minute remaining. With the clock running down, senior guard Hailey Lyczak drained a 3-pointer in front of the Viking bench to take the lead.
The Vikings would go on to not give up another basket and win the game, 73-64, in one of their best all-around performances of the season.
Quick Hits:
- North Park had four player score double-digit points with Victoria Perry (19), Caroline Long (17), Kathryn Keehn (14), and Hailey Lyczak (11)
- Carthage's Lauren Knight (20) and Addison Ebeling (17) recorded double-digit points totals
- Ebeling records 10 boards to round out a double-double for the night
- The Vikings shot 22-for-25 (88.0%) from the free throw line and 9-for-17 (60.0%) from beyond the arc
Whats Next?
The Vikings head to the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Illinois to face the No. 14 Illinois Wesleyan University Titans next Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 7:00 PM.
