NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The Elmhurst women's basketball team blasted North Central 85-65, securing a spot in the CCIW Tournament in the process. 

Elmhurst finished the season sweep of North Central and upped its record to 18-5 overall and 10-4 in the CCIW. The 18 victories matches the Bluejays' third-highest single-season win total set during the 2008-09 season. 

After falling behind 13-6 just four minutes into the contest, the Bluejays trimmed the deficit down to three points (22-19) with three minutes left in the opening quarter. Elmhurst took over from that point, scoring the next 11 points while shutting out the Cardinals. The 11-0 run to close the quarter gave the Bluejays a 30-28 lead after the opening quarter. 

Elmhurst continued to pull away in the second quarter, scoring the first four points to push their lead to double figures. Elmhurst outscored the Cardinals 16-9 in the quarter and built a 46-31 lead at the half. 

North Central (11-11, 5-8 CCIW) closed to within 13 points to start the third, but the Bluejays ripped off a 17-5 run over the next six minutes to open up a commanding 25-point lead. The Bluejays led by 21 points after three quarters and the Cardinals did not cut the deficit to less than 20 points until the final minute of the fourth quarter as the Bluejays cruised to the 20-point victory.

Elmhurst shot 52.9 percent (37-of-70) from the floor while dominating the game inside the paint. The Bluejays outscored the Cardinals 52-24 in the paint and won the rebounding battle 57-37. The Bluejays dished out 31 assists on 37 made buckets. 

The Bluejays limited the CCIW's top-scoring team to just 65 points and a 27.3 percent (21-of-77) shooting performance. The Cardinals, who rely on the three-point shot in their fast-paced strategy, hit just 9-of-39 attempts (23.1 percent) from beyond the arc. 

Four players reached double figures in scoring for the Bluejays as nine different players put points on the scoreboard. Mikaela Eppard led the way for Elmhurst with 22 points and 15 rebounds, shooting 10-of-13 from the floor in the win. Kaela Jones finished one rebound shy of a double-double, totaling 14 points and nine rebounds while also dishing out a game-high six assists. Michaela Kumer and Becca Gerke came off the bench to combine for 22 points. Kumer scored 12 while Gerke poured in 10 for Elmhurst. Erika Johnson and Hanah Lipman totaled eight points apiece while Kalia Summerlin totaled six points and five assists. Lipman added nine rebounds in the win while Hannah Henderson and Jasmin Bailey totaled five assists apiece.

Paula Zerante was the only North Central player to reach double figures in scoring, finishing with a game-high 14 points in the loss. Kelly Wallner came off the bench to score eight for the Cardinals.

Elmhurst travels to Illinois Wesleyan University on Wednesday, February 15.