Game Notes: (WBK) Elmhurst College @ North Central College (1/23/16)

Final Score
NCC 100, Elmhurst 75

Game Summary
In a crucial game at Merner Fieldhouse, the Cardinals (9-9, 3-4) put on the clamps defensively, holding the Blue Jays (10-8, 4-3) without a basket for the first two and a half minutes before giving up a three. The Cardinals answered with one of their own at the other end, and kept the pressure up on Elmhurst, leading 19-14 after one quarter. The Cardinals broke out offensively in the second quarter, going on an 11-2 run over a three minute stretch early in the frame to open up a double digit lead. The Blue Jays were able to fight back within single digits a couple times, but the Cardinals fought back to go into the locker room up 52-38. Elmhurst trimmed the lead to 11 early in the third quarter, but the Cardinals went on a 9-0 run to make it a 20 point lead. It was just a formality from there, as the Cardinals led by 25 after three quarters, and held that margin for most of the fourth quarter, leading by as many as 31.

Key Stats

• NCC: Every player scored at least 2 points. I think, for all the positives of The System and the constant line changes it brings, this is the first time everyone who dressed to play made it into the scorebook. All but one player had at least one field goal (Kelly Wallner went 0-1 from the field, but hit a pair of free throws). This was great to see.
• Kim Wilson (NCC): 4-8 FG (3-6 3PT), 2-4 FT; 13 pts, 2 reb (2 off), 1 ast, 1 stl. Kim has struggled at the offensive end for much of the season, so to see her have a good game (her threes I think were pretty much all in the first half) was a great sign.
• Kaela Jones (ELM): 9-18 FG, 2-4 FT; 20 pts, 8 reb (6 off), 4 ast. Jones was the best option off Elmhurst's bench, to the point that Elmhurst coach Tethnie Carrillo came over before the second half to change her starting five, making the comment that her original starting five didn't work out so well. Jones was one of the people who started the second half, and she had a very good game, as many forwards tend to do against North Central.

NCC System Watch

• Elmhurst Turnovers: 33. I think this was by far the Cardinals' best performance of the season, and this stat was a big reason why. This was a very chippy game, and the Cardinals did their fair share of it on the defensive side, forcing multiple errant passes and picking pockets repeatedly. The Cardinals had 17 steals in the game, paced by Michaela Reedy's four, while Paula Zerante added three. The Cardinals also forced a five second inbounding call, two ten second calls, and a backcourt violation among the takeaways.
• NCC 3PT: 14-39 (35.9%). This is one of the Cardinals' better performances at this end. They didn't take quite as many as they normally do, since layups were available, but they hit more than their fair share of outside shots. They didn't really get red hot at any particular point, but they hit shots when they needed to.
• NCC Charges Drawn: 0. Clearly Coach Carrillo is a regular reader of Confessions of a Sportscaster's Game Notes watched the film of North Central and knows of Anita Sterling's tendency to draw charges. She was ready multiple times, and it appeared her presence alone was enough to dissuade the Blue Jays from driving all the way to the rim. It worked.

CCIW Scoreboard Watch

• Illinois Wesleyan 72 (11-7, 6-1), @ North Park 71 (13-5, 4-3) (OT)
• @ Augustana 65 (8-10, 3-4), Millikin 59 (7-11, 0-7)
• @ Wheaton 70 (13-4, 5-2), Carthage 56 (7-11, 3-4)

Final Thoughts
Before every game, Michelle Roof comes by the scorers' table to greet all of us. Today, she made sure to check in with all of us, telling us how much they needed this one. I met up with her after the game and her reaction was basically, "Who was that team out there? That's a season saver!" It really was. The term "must-win game" gets thrown around a lot in sports, but this game really was must-win for the Cardinals for the rest of the campaign. The win gets them to three wins in the CCIW, and they're right in the thick of things. I think being at home certainly helped tonight, and it's a benefit they will get in the next two games and four of the next five.

The Cardinals kick off the second half of CCIW play on Wednesday at home against last place Millikin. I will, however, touch on this team a little bit in the next couple days with regards to the CCIW standings through one go-around. With just a glance at the standings right now, the Cardinals would be on the outside looking in, but they're only a game out of the CCIW Tournament, which all things considered, isn't bad.