Box Score Box Score

ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst College women's basketball team rallied from a 12-point second half deficit and overcame 22 turnovers to tip North Park University 56-53.

Elmhurst (10-2, 1-0 CCIW) trailed 29-24 at halftime and found themselves down by a dozen midway through the second half before mounting a rally. A 9-2 run capped by a Haley Roe three-pointer brought the Bluejays to within five-points with 6:49 left on the clock. The Vikings pushed their lead back up seven points, before a lay-up from Devin Vaughn and a three-point play from Megan Ney pulled the Bluejays to with two points with less than five minutes to play. A free throw from Ney pulled the Bluejays even at  48-48 with 3:11 left to play.

Tess Godhardt hit a free throw to give the Bluejays their first lead since the opening half, but North Park quickly countered with a Sarah Peterson jumper. Ney gave Elmhurst a 51-50 lead with 1:54 left after hitting a driving lay-up.

The Vikings evened the score at 51-51 after Kamuria Acree split a pair of free throws. The Bluejays went up for good when Meghan Merklein knocked down a turn-around jumped in the lane and was fouled in the process. Merklein sank the free throw to five Elmhurst a 54-51 cushion. The Vikings sliced the lead down to one with 1:16 left after Dominique Williams hit a pair of free throws. Back-to-back turnovers gave the Bluejays the ball with 36 seconds left, but the 22nd turnover of the game by the Bluejays allowed North Park one final possession. Acree missed a driving lay-up and Ney grabbed the rebound and was fouled. The senior center hit both free throws with 3.8 seconds left on the clock to put the game away for the Bluejays.

Elmhurst finished the game shooting 39.1 percent (18-of-46) from the floor, including 33.3 percent (3-of-9) from downtown. North Park shot 32.8 percent (21-of-64) from the field, including 30.0 percent (3-of-10). Elmhurst dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Vikings 44-32. North Park made the most of the Bluejays' mistakes, turning 22 turnovers into 18 points.

Vaughn led the Bluejays in the win, scoring 17 points and dishing out six assists. Merklein recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds while Ney totaled 10 points and nine rebounds. Fiona McMahon pulled down eight rebounds for the Bluejays.

Roxanne Jones sparked the Vikings in the loss, totaling nine points, six rebounds, and seven steals. Sarah Peterson added eight points and six steals while Acree finished with six points and eight rebounds.

Elmhurst hosts Wheaton College on Saturday (January 7).