Wheaton, Ill. (2/20) – The Thunder women's basketball team lost a 54-47 decision to Carthage College on Tuesday night at home. Wheaton falls to 17-7 overall and 12-2 in the CCIW, while Carthage is now 15-10 overall and 8-6 in the CCIW.
Despite tonight's loss, Wheaton has earned outright possession of the CCIW Championship, because second-place Illinois Wesleyan (11-3) lost at North Central tonight. Wheaton will be the top seed and host this weekend's CCIW Women's Basketball Tournament to determine the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament. Wheaton, as the number-one seed will play fourth-seeded Carthage on Friday at 6 PM. Followed by second-seeded Illinois Wesleyan and third-seed Millikin at 8 PM. The CCIW Tournament Championship Game will be at 2 PM in King Arena.
The Wheaton-Carthage game will be broadcast on WETN-TV in the Wheaton area on Friday night and it will also be streamed live at www.wetn.org by clicking on the watch live link. The Thunder men's basketball team will be playing in the CCIW Men's basketball tournament at the same time on Friday and that game can be heard on WETN-FM at 88.1 FM in the Wheaton area or at www.wetn.org by clicking on the listen live link.
Wheaton led the Lady Reds 24-22 at halftime of tonight's contest. In the second half the score was tied five times with five lead changes. Wheaton led the guests 41-40 with 6:20 remaining in regulation; however it would be the hosts' last lead of the game. Carthage out-scored the Thunder 11-0 over the next 4:40 to take a 51-41 lead with 1:36 left in regulation as the Lady Reds earned the hard-fought victory.
Junior center Jill Trenz led the Thunder with 11 points and seven blocked shots. She also grabbed 12 rebounds, including six offensive boards. Sophomore Kathleen Fidelia scored 11 points, with six rebounds and three steals. Guard Katie Heddell added seven points with six rebounds. Senior Elizabeth Fox grabbed nine rebounds.
Erika Buchholz led Carthage with 15 points and six rebounds. Katie Klemke scored 11 points, with three assists. Kristina Dredge scored nine points, with nine rebounds. Katie Jarger led the Lady Reds with 14 rebounds, including six offensive boards.
Wheaton shot 30.6% (19-62) from the field, with 19% (4-21) from three-point range and 50% (5-10) at the free throw line. Carthage shot 30.8% (16-52) from the field, with 35.7% (5-14) from behind the three-point arc and 60.7% (17-28) from the charity stripe. Each team grabbed 46 rebounds and the Thunder held a 15-14 edge on the offensive glass.
