GAME STATS PICTURED ABOVE: Lauren Graham grabbed a game-high nine rebounds to go with nine points in Wheaton's 96-44 victory over Aurora

Wheaton, Ill.- The Wheaton women's basketball team turned in a powerful performance in their final game before the Thanksgiving break. The Thunder raced out to a 48-29 lead at halftime and then poured it on in the second half to register a 96-44 victory over Aurora University.  With the win, Wheaton advances to 3-0 on the season while Aurora falls to 1-2.

Wheaton shot 50.7% (35-69) from the field including a sultry 58.8% from behind the three-point line (10-17).  The Thunder also turned in their best performance of the young season from the free throw line shooting 80% (16-20).  Aurora was held to 31.5% from the field (17-54) and 28.6% (6-21) from the three-point line while shooting just 4-10 from the free throw line.

As they did over the weekend at the Beth Baker Classic, the Thunder jumped out to a hot start behind their senior point guard Brooke Olson.  Olson scored the first five points of the night for the hosts including a three-pointer just seven seconds into the game. Wheaton methodically extended their lead into double digits at 22-12 following a three-pointer by Maria Panaggio (PICTURED RIGHT) with 12:48 remaining in the half.  The lead stretched to as many as 19 points in the first half when Moriah Reeves drove to the hoop for a lay-in with 5:31 left before halftime. 

The Spartans cut the lead down to 13 points with 1:17 left but a lay-in by Lauren Graham and a basket, steal, jumper sequence in the last three seconds by Olson gave Wheaton a 48-29 halftime edge.

The Thunder turned up the defensive pressure to start the second half and opened the half on a 12-3 run in the first three minutes capped by a lay-up by Hannah Considine.  That run was followed by a 14-0 run over the next three minutes that put Wheaton up 76-33.

From there the Thunder would coast to a 96-44 victory.  Wheaton outscored Aurora 41-4 off turnovers and 40-18 in the paint.

Olson led the Thunder with 21 points.  Breanna Bohlen (PICTURED LEFT) poured in 16, Considine tallied 14, and Reeves finished with 11 for the Thunder.  Lauren Graham finished the night with nine points and a team high nine rebounds.  #Maris Hovee had six points, six rebounds and five blocks.

Wheaton's 96 points is the most scored by the Thunder since a 93-59 victory over St. Mary's of the Woods College in the Taylor University Holiday Tournament on December 30, 2010.

Wheaton will next be in action on November 28 when they travel to the University of Chicago to take on the Maroons at 6 PM.