ELMHURST, Ill. -- The Vikings (3-12, 0-6) traveled to face the Bluejays of Elmhurst University (9-4, 1-4), a team that has also struggled within conference games and dropped their last two. This was a perfect opportunity for North Park to notch a win after a long losing stretch.
The first four minutes of play was a scoreless affair in which both teams struggled to see a shot fall. However, junior Sierra Gibson got rolling for the Bluejays dropping 12 points in her first ten minutes of play which sparked the Elmhurst offense getting them out to an early lead.
Sophomore Caroline Long acted as the Vikings' lifeline keeping them in the game and as close as seven points with her 15 points. But it was North Park's 15 first half turnovers that proved costly for the Vikings as the Bluejays were able to extend their lead to 38-25 at the end of the first half.
The second half was all Elmhurst, extending their lead to as much as 22 points behind three double digit scorers with Gibson leading the way finishing with 16 points. For the Vikings, Caroline Long posted a career-high in points with 26 and tied her career high for field goal makes with 10.
Mid-year transfer sophomore Kaylee Bures had a strong outing in only her second game as a Viking, posting 10 points off the bench with 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and shooting 8-8 from the free-throw line. Fifth-year guard Evelyn Abundes was the Vikings' second leading scorer with an 11-point double-double, knocking down 1-of-2 three pointers and 2-2 from the stripe.
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What's Next?
North Park will host North Central on Saturday, January 18th at 2pm followed by a week off before going to Decatur, Illinois to take on the Millikin Big Blue on January 25th at 2pm.
