GAME STATS PICTURED ABOVE: Lauren Graham led the Thunder with 14 points in its 74-57 victory over Linfield on Friday night.

Newberg, Ore.- The Wheaton women's basketball team opened its 2013-14 campaign on Friday night with a 74-57 victory over Linfield College at the George Fox Classic. Wheaton build a comfortable 40-23 lead at halftime and coasted to its season-opening victory. Wheaton will face the host George Fox Bruins on Saturday night at 6 PM (PST). George Fox was an 88-59 winner over California Lutheranon Friday night.

Wheaton shot 43.3% (29-67) from the field and 31.6% (6-19) from beyond the arc. Wheaton was 10-17 (58.8%) from the charity stripe. Linfield shot 37.5% (21-56) from the field and just 2-12 (16.7%) from three-point range. The Wildcats were 13-20 (65%) from the free throw line.

Linfield opened the game with an early 13-7 lead before the Thunder put together a 10-0 run to take a lead that it would no relinquish. Leading 25-21 with 5:30 left in the first half, Wheaton went held the Wildcats without a field goal for the rest of the half and reeled off a 15-0 run to stretch the lead to 19 point. Lauren Graham keyed the run for the Thunder wtih eight points during the run. Chantal Meachem added a three-pointer as well.

Linfield stopped the run with a pair of free throws with eight seconds left in the half to cut the Wheaton lead to 40-23 at halftime. Wheaton outscored Linfield 22-10 in the paint and 27-4 off the bench in the first half.


Lauren Graham led the Thunder with 14 points, five rebounds and five assists. Maris Hovee scored 10 points to go with nine rebounds, two assists, three blocks and two steals. Maria Panaggio added eight points and five rebounds for the Thunder and Katie McDaniels scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds in her collegiate debut.  Linfield's Kaely Maltman led all scorers with 21 points.