Box Score 

CHICAGO, Ill. - The Elmhurst College women's basketball team upped its record to 11-5 overall and 4-1 in the CCIW after holding off North Park University 77-73.

Elmhurst opened up a nine-point lead midway through the opening half, but North Park (4-12, 1-4 CCIW) battled back to knot the score at 34-34 at halftime. (three ties)

The Bluejays pushed their lead back up to seven early in the second half, but North Park responded and tied the score at 52-all with nine minutes remaining. The Vikings grabbed their first lead of the game on a Kam Acree bucket with eight minutes left. 

The two teams traded buckets before Megan Ney put Elmhurst up with a lay-in with six minutes left on the clock. North Park reclaimed the lead on a lay-up by Acree, but Meghan Merklein put Elmhurst up for good with a lay-up with 4:30 remaining. 

The Bluejays built up a six-point advantage, but North Park continued to battle, pulling to within a point with 58 seconds remaining. Ney hit 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch to ice the game for the Bluejays. 

Elmhurst finished the contest shooting 46.6 percent (27-of-58) from the floor, including 3-of-12 (25.0 percent) from downtown. 

North Park shot 44.1 percent (26-of-59) from the field and 23.1 percent (3-of-13) from 3-point range. The Vikings converted 18-of-19 free throws (94.7 percent)) and finished with a 39-32 edge on the glass.

Lyndsie Long led Elmhurst with a game-high 25 points. She added a team-leading nine rebounds in the victory. Ney added a season-high 16 points and pulled down six rebounds. Rashida Joiner chipped in with 14 points and three assists while Meghan Merklein added 10 points. 

Acree led the Vikings with 20 points in the loss. Bridgette Gray added 16 points while Dana Christensen scored 13. Lyndsey Thompson added 14 points for North Park while Sarah Peterson totaled a game-high 11 rebounds.

Elmhurst travels to Wheaton College on Saturday, January 23.