PICTURED ABOVE: Jennifer Berg led the Thunder with 17 points on Wednesday at University of Chicago.

Chicago, Ill. - The Wheaton Thunder women's basketball team had a furious fourth quarter rally fall just short on Wednesday night in a 72-69 loss at fifth-ranked University of Chicago. The Maroons led the Thunder by 13 points at the start of the fourth quarter, however, Wheaton out-scored the Maroons 25-15 in the final quarter. The Maroons' Mia Farrell made a layup with 14-seconds left in regulation to give the hosts a three-point advantage that the Maroons held on to. 

Wheaton tied its own single-game school record with 19 blocked shots against the Maroons. Jill Berg (PICTURED LEFT) blocked eight shots for the Thunder, tying her own career high. Wheaton's 19 blocked shots tonight is the most blocks by any NCAA women's basketball program in a single game this season. 

Thunder senior Jennifer Berg led the guests with 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field, including a 4-of-5 effort from three-point range. She added six rebounds and four steals. Jordan Myroth scored 16 points with a game-high nine rebounds and eight assists. Hannah Frazier tallied 12 points, five blocked shots and five rebounds. Devin Kyler was the fourth Thunder player to score in double digits as she tallied 10 points with seven rebounds and three blocked shots. Jill Berg added eight points and eight rebounds to go with her eight blocked shots.

Chicago held a 17-11 lead at the end of the first quarter and the Maroons had a 33-25 advantage at the halftime intermission. A scoring surge by the Maroons late in the third quarter allowed the hosts to hold a 57-44 lead at the end of the third quarter. 

Just five seconds into the fourth quarter, Jill Berg's basket cut the Chicago lead to 57-46 and was the start of a strong quarter for the guests. Chicago led by 11 points at 59-48 with 6:35 left in regulation when Myroth made two free throws to spark a 10-3 run for the Thunder. Myroth scored six of Wheaton's 10 points in the run as the Thunder trimmed the Maroons' lead to 62-58 with 4:25 remaining in the fourth quarter. Chicago's Miranda Burt made a three-pointer with 3:30 left in the game to extend the hosts' lead to 65-58. Wheaton responded on its next possession as Jennifer Berg drained a three-pointer to trim the Maroons' lead to 65-61 with 3:09 remaining in the game. 

Myroth grabbed a key offensive rebound with 2:40 left in the game as Wheaton maintained possession and Kyler rewarded Myroth's effort as Kyler's jumper cut the Chicago lead to 65-63 with 2:34 left in the game. Kyler stole the ball on Chicago's next possession  and Frazier went to the hoop for a layup that tied the game at 65-65 with 2:14 remaining in the game. Chicago's Taylor Lake converted an old-fashioned three-point play to give the Maroons a 68-65 lead with 1:27 left in the game. A layup by Myroth cut the Chicago lead to 68-67 with 1:07 left in the matchup.

Chicago's Obi Olariche and Frazier traded layups as Chicago held onto a one-point lead at 70-69 with 43-seconds left in the fourth quarter. Chicago called a timeout after Frazier's basket and the Maroons came out after the time and got the ball to Farrell who made a layup to give UChicago the 72-69 lead with 0:14 left. Wheaton called timeout to set up one final shot in regulation for the Thunder. A Thunder three-point attempt in the closing seconds was blocked by UChicago and the ball was collected by Olariche as the Maroons escaped with the three-point win.

The Thunder shot 42.4% (25-of-59) from the field, including 35.7% (5-for-14) from three-point range. UChicago posted a 36.1% (26-of-72) field goal percentage, including a 40% (6-of-15) effort behind the three-point arc. Wheaton had a 70% (14-of-20) effort at the free throw line and Chicago shot 66.7% (14-of-21) at the charity stripe. Each team collected 43 rebounds, with a 19-13 edge on the offensive glass for the Maroons.

Taylor Lake led Chicago with 20 points, six rebounds and five steals. Olariche scored 13 points with eight rebounds and five steals. Farrell tallied 10 points for the hosts.

Wheaton opens CCIW play on Saturday at North Park in a 5:00 p.m. tipoff against the Vikings.      
 

Most blocked shots in a NCAA women's basketball game in 2018-19
Blocks	Team (Division)	Opponent	Date
19	Wheaton College (III)	University of Chicago	11/28/18
16	Wheaton College (III)	Hanover College	11/17/18
16	South Carolina (I)	Clemson	11/15/18
16	New Mexico (I)	Texas State	11/9/18
14	North Greenville (II)	Catawba	11/9/18
13	DeSales (III)	Scranton	11/26/18
13	Morehead State (I)	Kentucky Christian	11/26/18
13	Trinity, Texas (III)	Sul Ross State	11/23/18
13	University of Rochester (III)	William Smith	11/20/18
13	University of Chicago (III)	Heidelberg	11/16/18
13	Albertus Magnus (III)	John Jay	11/14/18
13	Glenville State (II)	Chowan	11/10/18