WAUKESHA, Wis. - Carroll's women's basketball team fell to North Central (IL) Tuesday night by a score of 75-71 in a game that featured nine ties and seven lead changes. The Pioneers shot 41 percent (28-68) from the field, including 21 percent (4-19) from 3-point range, while North Central converted 44 percent (24-54) of their shots and 50 percent (6-12) of their 3-pointers, while also sinking 88 percent (21-24) of their free throws.

The first quarter was very tightly contested, with neither team leading by more than five during the first nine minutes. North Central's Ameli Sanchez connected on a 3-pointer with one minute to play in the opening period to give the Cardinals a six-point lead, with Carroll (15-7, 10-3 CCIW) answering with a pair of baskets, before NCC (10-13, 6-8 CCIW) scored in the final seconds to take a four-point advantage into the second period. In that second quarter, a North Central 3-pointer by Megan McClure gave the Cards a five-point lead with just under three minutes before halftime, which is when the Pios flipped a switch, scoring the final 11 points of the half to take a 38-32 lead at intermission.

Carroll maintained that lead for the first three minutes of the second half, until a 3-pointer by Jocelyn Trotter gave the Cardinals a three-point advantage. The Pios would battle back to grab the lead back with just under four minutes left in the period on a Natalie Gricius layup. That lead would last until the opening minute of the fourth quarter, but Gricius answered with a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to put the Pios back in front. North Central would then score the next eight points to go back in front, and the Cardinals wouldn't trail again the rest of the night, thanks in large part to making seven of eight free throws in the final two minutes.

Gricius led all scorers with 25 points, leaving her just 51 shy of becoming the 19th player in program history to score 1,000 for her career. Olivia Rangel added 18 points, to go along with nine rebounds, six assists, and two steals. That leaves Rangel just two assists and two steals of breaking both career records in program history, which were each set 39 years ago by Amy Vanden Langenberg '86.

North Central had a balanced scoring attack with Trotter and Josylin Simmons-Doxie leading the way with 15 points apiece. McClure added 14 points, making all three of her 3-pointers, while Grace Kieffer chipped in with 13 points.

Carroll will try to rebound on Saturday when they'll host Augustana (IL) on what will be Senior Day for the Pios. That game will begin at 2 p.m. from Van Male Gymnasium in Waukesha, Wis.