Naperville Central’s varsity girls basketball team lost against the Neuqua Valley Wildcats in their DVC opener on Dec. 6 by a score of 59-51.

Neuqua set the tone of the game early, with junior Michayla Stone converting a  basket to give the Wildcats the first points of the game. Her teammate, junior Nalia Clifford, then followed up with a deep three-pointer.

Although they had an early deficit, Central’s Erin Hackett, a junior, put them on the board. However, Neuqua rallied to extend their lead.

Central found its rhythm late in the first half. Senior Tessa Williams started an impressive 8-point run with a three pointer, followed by another bucket assisted by Emily Moran. Hackett then ended their run with a deep three-pointer from near the logo.

Hackett secured a steal, and converted  it into a layup, giving Central a slim lead going into the half.

“I’m proud of the effort they put in tonight, especially in the first half,” said head coach Andy Nussbaum.

The second half saw the Wildcats regain their footing. After a series of three pointers from Neuqua, senior Abby Gadomski kept Central in the game, but Neuqua’s defense held back most of Central’s second half offensive production. 

“I think we played really well as a team; we definitely could have gotten [the win],” Gadomski said. “Overall, we tried really hard and we put a lot of effort in.”

With just seven minutes left, Clifford hit a three-pointer to extend Neuqua’s lead to 47-39. The Wildcats sealed their win with yet another three, putting a finishing touch on their 59-51 victory.

“We created a lot of quality looks on offense, but unfortunately, our shots just weren’t falling tonight,” Nussbaum said.

Although they lost, the Redhawks showcased their offensive ability, especially in the first half. With conference play just beginning, Central looks to build on its strengths and bounce back in the next matchup.