CHICAGO, Ill. - Sophomore center Katie Rossetti (Wauconda, Ill.) scored 10 of her team-high 19 points in the second half as the Carroll University women's basketball team defeated North Park University 79-63 in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin game Thursday afternoon.
It was a critical second consecutive conference victory and equaled a season-high point total for Carroll, which improved to 4-8 in the league standings to remain in the hunt for a CCIW tournament berth and improved to 9-12 overall.
Wheaton College (11-1) is currently in sole possession of first place in the conference standings. Illinois Wesleyan is second (9-2) followed by third-place Carthage  (8-3), fourth-place Augustana (6-6) and fifth-place Elmhurst (4-7). Carroll and North Central (4-8) are tied for the sixth and final spot in the tournament.
The victory took on added significance as it avenged a gut-wrenching 70-69 home-court loss to North Park from earlier this year and marked the most victories in a season during Carroll head coach Lindsay Schultz's three years at the helm.
Carroll trailed 35-32 at halftime but responded to the challenge by outscoring the Vikings 47-28 over the course of the second half - including what proved to be an explosive, decisive 27-8 margin in the third quarter.
Freshman point guard Alyssa Cruz (West Allis, Wis.) followed with 18 points, including 7 of 8 free throws, a team-best five assists and three rebounds for the Pioneers, who made six baskets from 3-point range, 21 of 25 free throws and shot an efficient 51 percent from field-goal range. Freshman guard Sierra Grubor (Milwaukee, Wis.) had 16 points, highlighted by 9 of 10 free throws, and pulled down four rebounds.
Sophomore guard Emily Majerus, who battled through an early knee injury, followed with eight points, three assists and two steals for Carroll, which was competing with an eight-player roster, battled through foul trouble and generated 16 assists. Freshman forward Kayla Stefka (Johnsburg, Ill.) had seven points, five rebounds, three assists, one blocked shot and a steal. 
Freshman center Celina Schwantes (Pewaukee, Wis.) added four points, a team-high six rebounds and two assists.
Sophomore guard Sinead Malloy and freshman forward Jayla Johnson each scored a team-high 14 points for North Park, which dropped to 3-9 in conference and 9-14 overall. Sophomore guard Zakiya Newsome had 11 points for the Vikings, who made six 3-pointers, 19 of 27 free throws and shot 39.6 percent from the field.