ELMHURST, Ill. - Mikaela Eppard's monster game was not quite enough, as the Elmhurst women's basketball team fell to North Central 89-83.

Eppard finished with career-highs in points (30) and rebounds (19). She shot 12-of-20 from the floor, 1-of-1 from downtown, and 5-of-7 from the free-throw line.

Today's results set up two games next Saturday that will decide the final two spots in the CCIW Tournament. The Bluejays (13-11, 7-6 CCIW), North Central (13-11, 7-6 CCIW), and North Park (16-8, 7-6 CCIW) are all tied for third place. If the Bluejays beat Illinois Wesleyan next Saturday, they will qualify for the CCIW Tournament. If Elmhurst loses, they need North Central to beat North Park in Chicago in order to qualify.

Elmhurst trailed for the majority of the contest, but clawed back to within four on four occasions in the fourth quarter. Eppard's layup with 36 seconds to go trimmed the North Central lead to just three at 86-83, but the Cardinals knocked down three free throws and the Bluejays missed on three three-point attempts in the final 30 seconds.

Elmhurst came out firing in the early going, opening up a game-high eight-point lead just three minutes into the contest. The Cardinals outscored the Bluejays 24-5 over the rest of the quarter to take an 11-point lead after the first period.

North Central continued to dominate the game, pulling ahead by a game-high 20 points with six minutes to go in the second quarter. The Bluejays put themselves back into the game late in the half, closing on a 13-5 run to pull within eight at halftime.

The Cardinals kept the lead at eight-or-more for the majority of the third quarter and held a nine-point lead heading into the fourth. A Claire Monroe three-pointer put Elmhurst within five with six minutes remaining and her second long-range basket in two minutes cut the deficit to four with four minutes left. The teams traded buckets until the final minute, when North Central's free throws sealed the game.

Monroe (14 points) and Michaela Kumer (11) added double figures for the Bluejays. Courtney Spencer posted a career-high six assists as well. Elmhurst turned the ball over 31 times in the game, while outrebounding the Cardinals 53-37. The Bluejays shot 47 percent from the field and scored 46 points in the paint.

North Central scored 26 points off its 31 turnovers. Therese Petterssen led the Cardinals with 19 points, while Mayson Whipple (13 points, four assist), Jamie Cuny (11 points, nine rebounds), and Michaela Reedy (10 points) also added double-digit games.

Elmhurst faces Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington Saturday, February 20 with a chance to lock up a CCIW Tournament appearance with a victory. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.