MOUNT VERNON – The Cornell women's basketball team started off the new year with a 61-56 nonconference win over North Central (Minn.) Tuesday night inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
Securing its fifth win of the season, Cornell (5-8) took care of the first-place Upper Midwest Athletic Conference foe in North Central (6-6) with defensive pressure.
 
Cornell held North Central below its season scoring average by nearly 20 points and limited the guests to 35.1 percent shooting from the floor and 20 percent from beyond three-point range.
 
Cornell secured a season-high 20 steals with eight different players registering at least two. A 21-4 advantage in points off of turnovers was the difference maker for the Rams.
 
Seniors Kali March and Ani'ja Simmons led the team with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Senior Rachael Adewusi and junior Randi Wright saw the court after some time out with injury, combining for 14 points.
 
A hot fourth quarter secured the win for the Rams as they shot 60.0 percent from the floor and converted nine points from the free-throw line.
 
Caitlyn Ryan led North Central with 14 points and seven rebounds.
 
Coming up – The Rams will host Lake Forest on Saturday in a Midwest Conference doubleheader at 4 p.m.