PICTURED ABOVE: Katie McDaniels scored 20 points and distributed five assists in the win against Elmhurst.

Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton Thunder women's basketball team had a strong outing tonight to earn a 65-43 victory against Elmhurst College (12-10, 6-5 CCIW) in King Arena. Wheaton improves to 16-5 overall and 8-3 in CCIW play. Wheaton is currently ranked 20th in Division III in this week's WBCA Division III Coaches Poll and the D3hoops.com Top-25.

Wheaton is now tied for first place in the CCIW as a result of tonight's win against Elmhurst and an 87-81 victory for North Central (11-11, 5-6 CCIW) against Illinois Wesleyan (13-9, 8-3 CCIW). Wheaton and Illinois Wesleyan are now tied for first with identical 8-3 records. However, Wheaton holds the tiebreak that is used to determine the top seed in the upcoming CCIW Tournament, thanks to the Thunder picking up the season sweep of the Titans.

Wheaton junior Katie McDaniels led all scorers with 20 points as she shot 6-of-11 from the field, including 2-of-2 behind the three-point arc. McDaniels also distributed five assists and had two steals. Senior Hannah Considine (PICTURED LEFT) scored 16 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead an outstanding Wheaton effort on the glass. Kelly Lawson scored eight points with six rebounds and two assists. Chantal Meacham contributed seven points with five assists.

Mikaela Eppard led Elmhurst with 12 points and 17 rebounds. Anette Stidham and Erika Johnson each scored six points for the Bluejays.

Wheaton shot 36.8% (21-of-57) from the field, including 38.5% (5-of-13) from three-point range tonight. Elmhurst posted a 28.9% (13-of-45) field goal percentage, including a 23.1% (3-of-13) effort behind the three-point arc. Wheaton shot 94.7 (18-of-19) at the free throw line and the Bluejays had a 60.9% (14-for-23) effort at the charity stripe.

Elmhurst scored the first four points of the game in the opening 1:30 of the contest. The Bluejays' lead quickly evaporated as Wheaton out-scored the guests 14-5 to take a 14-9 lead with 2:40 remaining in the first quarter. McDaniels and Considine each scored six points for the Thunder in the run as the duo combined to score 12 of Wheaton's 14 points. Wheaton held a 16-13 lead at the conclusion of the first quarter.
Wheaton controlled play in the second quarter as the Thunder out-scored the guests 15-7 in the period. Considine scored 12 first-half points and McDaniels tallied 10 points as the pair contributed 22 points to Wheaton 31-20 lead at halftime.

The Thunder out-scored Elmhurst 20-5 in the third quarter to take a commanding 51-25 lead at the conclusion of the quarter. Elmhurst shot just 1-of-9 from the field in the quarter.

The Thunder out-scored the guests 18-14 in the fourth quarter to earn the 65-43 victory at home.

Note Worthy: McDaniels moved into 13^th place on Wheaton's career scoring list with 1,063 career points as she went past Elizabeth Fox (1,046); Brittany Cooper (1,049), Amy Russell (1,061) and Ellie Zeller (1,062) with her 20-point effort in tonight's victory.