MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.-- Women's Basketball trailed at halftime and found themselves down by as many as nine points in the second half at home on Friday versus Providence University-College. Upper classman leadership stepped up and the Rams found a way to earn their first win of the year by defeating the Pilots 59-55.

North Central (1-4, 0-0 UMAC) got in front early in the game by as many as nine points around the 13 minute mark but the Pilots closed the half much stronger and earned a 28-24 lead at the break. Providence pounded the Rams on the class in the first 20 minutes taking a 27-18 advantage in rebounds to the locker room.

In the second half the Pilots maintained their control of the game and extended the lead to nine with 13:32 left. The teams were scoreless over the next 2:30 before senior Shelby Norman (Winsted, Minn./Watertown-Mayer) pulled down the rebound of her own miss and converted the put back to ignite a 15-0 run by the Rams that gave NCU a 48-42 advantage with 6:22 remaining.

The teams traded baskets often over the final minutes with Providence pushing back in front, 53-51. Junior Whitney Reames (Vassar, Mich./Vassar) then got free on the left wing and canned a huge three pointer that put NCU in front 54-53 with 2:56 left.

Then, in what proved the clinching defensive stand, the Rams got a stop and collected the rebound with 75 seconds left. Each team turned it over during the next minute and the Rams went 1 for 2 at the line with 17 seconds left. Good team defense forced an tough shot, freshman Marissa Kari (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes) pulled down the rebound and hit a pair of free throws with three seconds left to seal the win for North Central.

Shelby Norman played her best game of the year with a team and season high 16 points and 8 rebounds, 2 steals and just one turnover. Junior Jamie High (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) notched a key double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds with 2 steals. Lizzy Swanson (Askov, Minn./East Central) and Marissa Kari added 9 and 8 points respectively.

After being outrebounded in the first 20 minutes, the Rams bounced back to earn a 29-23 advantage in the second half.

North Central will be back in action on Saturday at 3 p.m. when they host Trinity Bible College (Ellendale, N.D.). The winner will be 2-0 in NCCAA regional play and gain an inside track on the top seed in the regional tournament in February.