Box Score

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The Elmhurst College women's basketball team needed overtime, but won its third straight contest by toppling North Central College 78-71.

Elmhurst (9-9, 4-3 CCIW) led by as much as 14 points in the second half and had a 10-point advantage with 4:23 left to play. North Central (6-12, 2-5 CCIW) chipped the lead down to four points with 1:40 left. A Jackie Errico putback brought the Cardinals to within a bucket with 14 seconds left. After an Elmhurst missed free throw, the Cardinals tied the score on a pair of free throws by Errico with 12 seconds remaining. 

After a missed Elmhurst lay-up, the Bluejays got the ball back with 0.3 seconds left on the clock. The Bluejays' Meghan Merklein appeared to hit the game-winning lay-up at the buzzer, but after conferring, the referees, waived the basket off. 

In the extra time, the Bluejays broke a 69-69 tie with five straight points to build a 74-69 lead. North Central pulled to within three points, but a Merklein lay-up and a pair of free throws from Kelsey Monroe iced the game for the Bluejays. 

The Bluejays shot 44.3 percent (27-of-61) from the floor, including 33.3 percent (6-of-18) from downtown. Elmhurst outrebounded the Cardinals 43-37.

Merklein led Elmhurst with 22 points and eight rebounds. Monroe added 19 points and five rebounds while Ceejay Harris totaled 10 points and a team-leading eight rebounds. Megan Ney added eight points for the Bluejays.

North Central shot 38.1 percent (24-of-63) from the field, including 30.8 percent (4-of-13) from downtown. 

Errico paced the Cardinals with a double-double, finishing with 26 points and 13 rebounds. Jenny Swanson added 11 points while Sophie Newson chipped in with 10.

Elmhurst hosts Augustana College on Saturday, January 29.