Ripon, Wis. (11/28) – The Thunder women's basketball team closed out a three-game string of road contests in Wisconsin with a 55-40 victory at Ripon College on Tuesday night. With the win, Wheaton improves to 3-3 on the season and Ripon is now 3-2.

The Thunder led the Red Hawks 24-21 at halftime, however the hosts opened the second half by out-scoring Wheaton 12-2 to take a 33-26 lead with 15:30 left in regulation. Wheaton countered by putting together an impressive run that saw the guests out-score Ripon 27-4 over the next 12:30 to give the Thunder a 53-37 lead with 2:50 left in the game. Junior center Jill Trenz scored 10 of Wheaton's points in the run that saw Trenz, Elizabeth Fox and Emily Carwell combine to score 22 of the squad's 27 points. Wheaton held the Red Hawks to just 19 points in the second half, including just seven points in the final 15:30 of the game.   

Trenz led Wheaton in the game with 16 points and 10 rebounds to collect her second “double-double” of the year with double digits in points and rebounds. The All-American posted a 72.7% field goal percentage for the game, shooting 8-for-11 from the field, and she added four blocked shots with three steals. Sophomore Kathleen Fidelia continued her strong start to the season with 13 points, five rebounds and four steals. Fox returned as a starter to the Thunder lineup with 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Guard Sara Gustafson led the Red Hawks with 14 points, on 6-for-9 shooting from the field, with five rebounds. Gustafson was the lone Ripon player to score in double digits as Mona Delsman scored seven points, on 3-for-10 shooting from the floor.

Wheaton shot 32.1% (9-28) from the field in the first half, but improved to 54.2% (13-24) in the second half to record a 42.3% (22-52) field goal percentage for the game. The Thunder shot 45.5% (5-11) from three-point range and 75% (6-8) at the free throw line. Ripon shot just 22.9% (8-35) in the second half, with a 30% (18-60) field goal percentage for the game. The Red Hawks had a 10% (1-10) three-point percentage, with 100% (3-3) from the free throw line.

Wheaton will host the CCIW/MIAA Classic this weekend in King Arena. The Thunder will face ninth-ranked Calvin College on Friday at 6 PM, followed by Hope against Carthage at 8 PM. Saturday's action will open at 1 PM with Calvin taking on Carthage and the Thunder will close out the tournament with a 3 PM tip-off against Hope, the defending NCAA Division III Champions.

WETN radio will provide in-game updates of Friday's game against Calvin; however Calvin College will broadcast the entire game live on its website at http://www.calvin.edu/sports. WETN radio will broadcast the second half of Saturday's game against Hope at 88.1 FM in the Wheaton area and on the internet at www.wetn.org.