The UW-Parkside women's basketball team maintained its half-game lead over Northern Kentucky in the Great Lakes Valley Conference standings Saturday with a 77-52 victory over Bellarmine at DeSimone Gym in Somers.

The Rangers started the game with a 10-0 run and maintained a comfortable cushion through out the first half, leading 40-25 at halftime.

"Not only were we making baskets, but we were getting stop after stop," Parkside coach Jenny Kenesie said. "We made them feel uncomfortable and that helped us on the offensive end."

The Rangers pushed the lead to 46-26 early in the second half and didn't see their advantage drop below 16 points the rest of the way.

Amanda Gibson led the Rangers with 22 points and 12 assists.

"Amanda is an all-around great player and very unselfish," Kenesie said.

Brittany Hogen scored 19 points and Jadee Rooney had 14 points.

Parkside improved to 17-7 and 13-2 in the GLVC to hold on to first place in the conference. Second-place Northern Kentucky (21-2, 12-2 GLVC) defeated Kentucky Wesleyan 48-32.

CARTHAGE 67, NORTH CENTRAL 54: The Lady Reds held their position in the race for the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin playoffs Saturday with a conference victory at Gregory Arena in Naperville, Ill.

Carthage (15-7, 7-4 CCIW) started fast, taking a 13-2 lead with 14:05 left in the first half. The Cardinals responded with a 10-0 run, pulling to 13-12. Carthage came right back with a 14-0 run for a 27-12 led and had a 28-21 advantage at halftime. The Cardinals (10-11, 5-6 CCIW) didn't get any closer during the second half.

The victory kept the Lady Reds in third place in the GLVC a game behind second-place Wheaton College and a game ahead of Elmhurst College and Millikin University. The top four teams qualify for the CCIW women's basketball tournament.

Heather Gilmore led Carthage with 13 points. Katie Jarger scored 12 points and Lisa Gartelos and Dani Ripkey each scored 10.

Men

CARTHAGE 72, MILLIKIN 69: Guard Steve Djurickovic scored 23 of his 32 points in the second half - including nine over the final 3:30 - and the Red Men defeated the Big Blue

72-69 in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin game at Kenosha.

The game was close through out, but Djurickovic was the difference down the stretch. The Red Men trailed 65-61 when Djurickovic hit two free throws. After a defensive stop, Djurickovic scored on a layup and was fouled. He made the free throw and Carthage led 66-65 with 2:38 left.

After Millikin reclaimed the lead, Djurickovic hit two more free throws for a 68-67 lead. Carthage got another defensive stop and Sean Findley extended the Red Men's lead with two more free throws. Millikin cut the lead to 70-69 with 59 seconds left, but Djurickovic iced the game with two free throws with 15 seconds left.

"We made enough plays to get the win," Carthage coach Bosko Djurickovic said in a news release from the Carthage athletic department, "but you have to give Millikin a lot a credit. They've had a very good year."

Max Cary scored 11 points for Carthage (15-8, 7-5 CCIW). Fendley had eight points and nine rebounds.

BELLARMINE 83, UW-PARKSIDE 56: Former St. Catherine's standout LaVontay Fenderson scored 29 points, but it wasn't enough for the Rangers to keep up with Bellarmine in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game at Somers.

"He put some points up, but it wasn't one of his better games," Parkside coach Luke Reigel said. "There was just no help for him. We've got to put the ball in the basket."

Scoring was a problem for the Rangers. Other than Fenderson, no one scored in double figures and Parkside shot 1-for-21 from 3-point range.

The Rangers were also out rebounded 46-24 and limited to six offensive rebounds.

Parkside (6-18, 2-13 GLVC) was still able to keep the game close for a majority of the first half, but the Knights (19-5, 10-5 GLVC), ranked 18th in the NABC Division II men's basketball poll, took control late in the first half.

Holding a 29-20 lead with 3:52 left in the half, the Knights went on a 21-5 run, giving them a

50-25 lead with 15:52 left.