Box Score ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst women's basketball team evened its conference record at 2-2 on the season with a 71-63 win over North Park University.

Elmhurst (10-5 overall) jumped out to an 8-0 lead, scoring two points before  the jump ball on technical foul free throws due to North Park not having starters checked in in time.

North Park (8-7 overall, 1-3 CCIW) surged back, evening the score at 14-14 before pulling in front on a Soly Roman free throw. The two teams slugged it out for the rest of the first half as the lead changed hands 12 times while being tied on seven occasions. Elmhurst led 37-34 at the half after a late bucket from Melanie Schwerdtmann.

The Bluejays opened up a six-point lead early in the second half before the squad went cold, turning the ball over five times and missing four straight shots as North Park used a 12-3 run to take a 49-46 lead. After an Elmhurst three-pointer from Claire Monroe tied the score at 49 with 10 minutes remaining, the Bluejays continued to struggle from the field, missing their next eight shots. North Park failed to take advantage of the Bluejays' cold spell, building just a four-point cushion with 5:26 left. Back-to-back buckets from Katie Swanson and Nikky Moan pulled Elmhurst even at 57-all with 4:40 remaining.

A Hannah Lipman driving lay-up put the Bluejays back on top with 3:45left, but Roman quickly evened the score at 59-59 with a bucket with 3:23 left on the clock.

With the score still tied at 59-59, the Bluejays took advantage of several North Park fouls, hitting six straight free throws to open up a 65-61 lead with 1:11 left. North Park pulled to within four points on a jumper by Roman with 23 seconds left, but a pair of free throws from Swanson and Fiona McMahon sealed the win for Elmhurst.

The Bluejays shot just 36.7 percent (18-of-49) from the field after struggling in the second half. Elmhurst hit only 6-of-21 attempts (28.6 percent) in the game's final 20 minutes. Elmhurst remained solid at the charity stripe, converting 30-of-38 free throw attempts (78.9 percent). the Bluejays also outrebounded North Park 50-29 in the contest.

Swanson led the Bluejays with a career-high 17 points, shooting 4-of-6 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Karen Senette and Schwerdtmann scored 10 points apiece for the Bluejays while McMahon added seven points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

North Park was led by Brittany Pittas' 18 points off the bench. Pittas shot 7-of-14 from the floor and 4-of-8 from downtown in the loss. Roman added 12 points and seven rebounds for the Vikings.

Elmhurst travels to North Central College on Saturday, January 18.