ELLENSDALE, N.D. – North Central University (NCU) women's basketball kicked off their non-conference schedule on Wednesday night against the Lions of Trinity Bible College (TBC) in a non-conference affair. After making the five-hour drive across the Minnesota-North Dakota border, the women in blue and gold picked up exactly where they left off last season by routing the Lions by a final score of 63-55.
Game Recap
The Rams found themselves in a back-and-forth battle early on with eight total lead changes in the first quarter.
Kadija Conteh (London, UK, City of London Academy) came out firing on all cylinders for the Rams, as she managed to put up the first 7 points of the game for NCU to keep them within striking distance. Solid shooting from the Rams in the first half at a 43% clip was fundamental in their early offensive success. The Rams' perimeter defense was also essential, as the Lions were only able to knock down one three from outside the arc in the first two quarters. Despite this, NCU and TBC traded punches throughout the first half, which pushed a nail-biter 29-28 score heading into halftime.
In the second half the Rams managed to not give up the lead at any point in the latter 19 minutes of action. From the 50 second mark in the third quarter until about the 8 minute mark in the fourth, the Rams slipped away on a 9-0 run that fueled them to their biggest lead of the night at 54-40. NCU went on to grab 19 total offensive rebounds on the night, which turned into 19 second chance points for the blue and gold. This gave NCU the edge to keep the lead down the stretch to come away with the win over the Lions.
Key Performer(s)
- Kadija Conteh was fundamental to the Rams' success in a variety of ways. Conteh put up 21 points on an efficient 8-13 from the field (3-4 from three) while also grabbing 7 rebounds and coming away with 4 steals.
- Emily DiGiorgio (Ironwood, MI, Luther L. Wright High School) put up her first double-double of the season by netting 19 points and coming down with 12 rebounds.
Looking Ahead
As North Central women's basketball looks ahead to the next matchup on their schedule, they will enjoy back-to-back days this Friday and Saturday of competing on their home floor in Clark-Danielson Gymnasium, when they clash with the Maranatha Baptist University (MBU) Sabercats. A reminder to all fans, families, and the NCU community that no fans will be allowed to be in attendance for any home games currently scheduled. NCU athletics encourages everyone to tune in to the live streams of each home contest by navigating to
ncurams.com/watch. A direct link to this Friday's 5:30pm matchup against MBU can be found by clicking
here.
