ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Grove City College women's basketball team returned to action after a 12-day layoff by pulling out a 61-50 victory Thursday afternoon over North Park (Ill.) in non-conference action hosted by Eckerd College.

Grove City relied upon a balanced offensive attack Thursday as no player scored in double figures, but seven Wolverines scored six or more points. Junior guard Reese Hasley (Cheswick, Pa./Deer Lakes) led the Wolverines (5-4) with nine points while senior forward Clara Hannon (Grove City, Pa./Grove City), senior guard Mara Polczynski (Irwin, Pa./Norwin) and freshman forward Alexis Hudson (Watsontown, Pa./Warrior Run) all tossed in eight points. 

Senior guard Jaden Davinsizer (Harmony, Pa./Seneca Valley), junior center Emma Ulmer (Northumberland, Pa./Northumberland Christian) and freshman guard Kailey Devlin (Turbotville, Pa./Meadowbrook Christian) all chipped in six points. 

Grove City surged ahead with an 18-5 run in the first quarter as seven different Wolverines scored during the outburst. Grove City led 19-13 after one quarter, then pushed the lead to 36-24 by halftime. Hudson's three-pointer and Ulmer's inside basket in the final minute of the first half gave the Wolverines their double-digit lead. 

North Park (3-8) trimmed the lead to 44-37 after 30 minutes and eventually closed to within 53-49 with 2:21 left. However, junior center Meredith Sherrerd (New Braunfels, Texas/New Braunfels) scored in the paint and Hasley later added two free throws to give Grove City a 57-49 lead with 52 seconds left. 

Hannon's two free throws with 18 seconds left sealed the victory. 

Grove City held a 43-42 edge in rebounds. Hannon, Polczynski and sophomore forward Bethany Thompson (Exeter Township, Pa./High Point Baptist) all had five rebounds. The Wolverines shot 20 of 59 (34 percent) from the field while North Park finished 19 of 60 (32 percent).

The teams combined for 50 turnovers, with Grove City forcing 26 North Park miscues. Polczynski recorded four steals while Hannon had three steals.

This marked the second all-time meeting between the programs. North Park defeated visiting Grove City, 53-46, December 30, 1996.

Grove City will face Wisconsin-Stout (7-2) at 11 a.m. Friday in St. Petersburg.