CHICAGO, Ill. -- The North Park Women's Basketball team battled the Carthage Firebirds on Saturday afternoon. Despite a strong first half, the Firebirds pulled away with a 56-40 win.

The Vikings played well in the first half, breaking the Firebirds' press to get some good looks in the opening quarters. Neither team found any rhythm beyond the arc, as the Firebirds were 1-13 and the Vikings were 1-8. 

Junior guard Kathryn Keehn got the first bucket of the second quarter on a driving layup, closing the gap to a one-possession game at 13-10. However, Carthage would find success in the low post, getting turn-and-face buckets to hold a 26-21 advantage at halftime. Senior forward Olivia Reed scored the second half's last basket on a jumper just inside the free throw line.

Carthage's Elena Knebel led the Firebirds with seven points, shooting 3-3 from the field, including the team's only three. Fifth-year guard Evelyn Abundes had eight points for NPU and sophomore forward Caroline Long led the first half with five boards.

A pair of NPU turnovers allowed Carthage's Malia Green to land consecutive shots from three-point land, establishing the Firebirds' double-digit lead early in the half, 31-21. Freshman guard Aliesha Peterson broke that scoring stretch for the Firebirds with an and-one layup at 6:55. The Vikings got more momentum from a nearly similar play where sophomore guard Aliyah Hershberger drove the left side for a successful and-one, inching closer at 34-27. 

Four good free throws between sophomore guard Naomi Kaskavitch and Long made it a two-possession game, 35-31, but another three followed by an and-one layup for Green gave Carthage another double-digit lead, 41-31.

This extended lead would hold through the rest of the game, as the Firebirds settled in with a 56-40 win.

What's Next?

North Park (3-17. 0-11 CCIW) begins a three-game road stretch beginning with Augustana College (8-12, 4-7) next Wednesday, Feb. 5. Tipoff at Carver Center is set for 7:00 PM CT.