PICTURED ABOVE: Chantal Meacham scored 17 points and broke Wheaton's career three-point record in an 85-42 victory at North Park on Wednesday night.
Chicago, Ill. - Wheaton left nothing to doubt on Wednesday night as the Thunder rolled to an 85-42 rout of North Park. Having lost three straight games to the Vikings in Chicago, Wheaton jumped out to a 20-2 lead after the first quarter and made it look easy as the Thunder claimed their first win on the corner of Foster and Kedzie since 2013. With the win, Wheaton improves to 12-3 on the season and remains atop the CCIW with a record of 6-1 in conference action. North Park falls to 8-8 overall and 1-6 in the conference. Wheaton will complete its first round of the conference schedule on Saturday when the Thunder host Carthage at 5 PM at King Arena.
With the game already well in hand late in the first half,
Chantal Meacham provided the game's only drama when she connected on her third three-pointer of the game. With the three,
Chantal Meacham moved past Rachel Horgen to establish a new program record with 207 career made three-pointers. Meacham also set the program's single-season record for three-pointers when she made 76 in the 2014-15 season. She would finish the game with 209 career three-pointers as she scored 17 points on the night, making five of her six three-point attempts. Horgen's record of 206 made three-pointers on 626 attempts was established from 1997-2001. Meacham's 209 three-pointers have come on 584 career attempts for a career percentage of 35.8%. Meacham ranks 31st in program history with 781 career points.
Wheaton scored the game's first seven points and after a North Park basket at the 7:11 mark of the first quarter, held the Vikings without a point for the remainder of the first quarter to take a 20-2 lead. Another 15-0 Thunder run followed a Vikings basket to start the second quarter, making it 35-4 with six minutes left in the first half. Wheaton would lead 46-14 at the end of the first half.
North Park scored the first six points of the second half but a 19-0 Thunder run followed en route to a 63-28 lead after three quarters. The Vikings again scored the first basket of the fourth quarter but Wheaton's subsequent 15-0 run put the Thunder lead at a game-high 48 points en route to the 85-42 victory.
Katie McDaniels scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Thunder. She also became just the fourth player in program history to reach the 1,500 career point plateau with 1,504 career points. Wheaton's career free throw leader, McDaniels was a perfect 10-10 at the free throw line. Meacham and
Kelly Lawson each finished with 17 points.
Ellie Zeller had eight points.
Jill Berg led all players with seven rebounds.
Devin Kyler recorded a game-high six steals.
Wheaton will next be in action on Saturday at 5 PM when the Thunder welcome the Carthage Lady Reds to King Arena to wrap up the first half of the CCIW schedule.
