Naperville, Ill. – The Carroll University Pioneers women's basketball fell for the third straight contest, this time to North Central by a score of 60-62. Sophomore Katie Evans had a career day, finishing with a new career high 15 points on 6-14 shooting (42.9% FGM), three steals, two assists, and block to stuff the stat sheet. Freshman Elizabeth Behrndt finished with a team high 7 rebounds, a new career high for her as well.
 
The Pioneers (now 5-9 overall, 1-5 CCIW) took an eight-point lead to finish the first quarter after shooting 43.8% from the floor but struggled to keep the momentum. The Pioneers dominated the paint, outscoring the Cardinals 38-12. The women were also able to capitalize on 25 turnovers from North Central, scoring 22 points as a result of that. However, the usually sturdy Pioneer bench could not compete tonight, being out scored 18-45 points. Alyssa Cruz came off the bench for the second straight game and led the bench with 10 points, but Kayla Stefka and Haley Herriges could only back that up with four points each. Foul trouble began to plague the women, with Kate Christian and Brooke Foster committing four and three personal fouls, respectively.
 
The women quickly started off the contest on a 13-4 run, kicked off by layups from Evans and Sophomore Sierra Grubor (13 pts). Evans finished the quarter with a three-ball to keep the lead at 8 points, advantage Pios. Evans finished with 6 of her 15 points in the first. After four minutes of no score, the women were able to find the bucket with a score from Herriges. The Cardinals finished on a 9-3 run to go into halftime, finding themselves only down three.
 
The Pioneers started the third quarter with three offensive rebounds before Grubor laid in the basket. The women brought the lead up to 12 points with 7:07 remaining, from a Grubor and-one. The Cardinals hot hands came alive, making three straight three-point baskets to cut the lead to five. The Cardinals were able to tie up the game at the end of the third, from another three-point baskets and five free points at the free throw line. A Megan Madsen layup brought the Pioneer lead up to three early in the fourth, with neither team unable to keep momentum. The cardinals brought a lead up to four points with two free throws late. Christian (10 pts) put in the last lay-up of the game for the Pioneers with 1:49 remaining. Then Grubor had three looks at the basket with their last possessions but couldn't get anything to fall and the Cardinals walked away victorious.  
 
The Pioneers look to correct some things and get another shot at a win next week at Wheaton (Ill.). Stay up to date on Carroll women's basketball this season by going online to www.gopios.com, or by following the Pioneers on Facebook (Carroll University Athletics), Twitter (@pio_athletics), and Instagram (@pio_athletics).