Minneapolis, MN -- North Central University (NCU) Women's Basketball remained at home to host a matchup against the Crown College (CC) Polars on Saturday. The previous time these two teams faced each other last season, the Rams saw a victory against the Polars with a final score of 66-49 to advance NCU to the NCCAA DII National Tournament. Tonight, North Central had Crown's number once again as they picked up their first conference win with a final score of 54-43. Towards the end of the third quarter, Senior
Kaitlyn VanderPloeg knocked down a jumper to score her 1,000th career point as a Ram.
Throughout the game, North Central delivered a strong and well-rounded performance, combining solid offense with effective defense to secure a competitive win over Crown. The first quarter went back and forth as neither team found much rhythm offensively. The Polars led 9-7 after the first 10 minutes. The Rams settled in the second quarter to regain the lead. Key players like
McKenzie Latzke and Kaitlyn Vanderploeg played pivotal roles, with Latzke hitting several crucial three-pointers, including key fast-break buckets, while Vanderploeg contributed both in the paint and at the free-throw line. North Central went into halftime feeling confident leading 25-21.
Spirits were high for the Rams as they returned from the half. However, both squads would start out slow offensively. At the end of the third quarter, North Central's senior captain,
Kaitlyn VanderPloeg achieved 1,000 points in her college career at NCU. This gave the team a boost of morale and motivation, which is exactly what they needed to close out the game. The Rams expanded their lead to six at 39-33 headed into the final quarter. As the minutes winded down, the Rams controlled the fourth as they furthered their lead against the Polars and pulled out a win with a final score of 54-43.
Top Performers:
Looking Ahead:
The Rams will make their way to Ashland, Wisconsin to face off against the Lumberjills. The game is set to begin on Wednesday, January 22nd at 7:15 PM.
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