GAME STATS PICTURED ABOVE: Laura Karsten led the Thunder with a team-high 16 points and seven rebounds.
Bloomington, Ill. – The Wheaton women's basketball team opened its 2012 CCIW schedule on Wednesday night with a 70-55 loss at defending conference champion, Illinois Wesleyan (7-4/1-0 CCIW). Wheaton is now 7-5 on the year and 0-1 in conference play and will remain on the road Saturday night for a 5:30 PM tipoff at Elmhurst.
Wheaton led early in the game, holding a 20-15 edge with 11 minutes left in the first half. However that would be Wheaton's largest lead of the game as the Titans rallied to take the lead and hold a 28-27 lead at halftime.
The hosts led 35-33 with 16:30 remaining in the second half when the Titans put together a 13-2 run to take a 48-35 lead with 13 minutes left in the game. Illinois Wesleyan continued to a hold a double digit lead at 51-37 with 10:20 left in the game when the Thunder responded with a 10-3 run to cut the IWU lead to seven points at 54-47 with 5:45 remaining in the game. Twice in the final five minutes, the Thunder cut the Titans lead to a four-point advantage, but Wheaton couldn't get closer as IWU scored the final 11 points of the game to earn the 70-55 win.
Laura Karsten led the Thunder with 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Freshman
Lauren Graham (PICTURED LEFT) scored 12 points, with seven rebounds. Junior
Brooke Olson tallied nine points, with six rebounds.
Maris Hovee contributed eight points, with eight rebounds.
Olivia Lett scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Titans. Melissa Gardner scored 12 points to assists the hosts' cause.
Wheaton shot 36.8% (21-57) from the field, with 22.7% (5-22) from three-point range and 50% (8-16) at the free throw line. Illinois Wesleyan posted a 38.6% (27-70) field goal percentage, with 39.1% (9-23) from three-point range and 77.8% (7-9) at the charity stripe. Wheaton Thunder out-rebounded the Titans 41-40, with IWU holding a 16-14 edge on the offensive glass.
