Plymouth, Wis. -- The eleventh-ranked Wheaton women's basketball team continued their winning ways on Tuesday night, taking down nonconference foe Lakeland University by a score of 61-50. The victory was Wheaton's second road win of the young season and improved the Thunder's record to 4-0 overall. 

Tonight's game got off to a slow start, with the first point not arriving until over two minutes in: a made free throw by Annie Tate. Lakeland immediately countered by hitting a three-pointer on their next possession, and it appeared as though the favorites might be in for a tough night. But the Thunder shook off their slow start to go on a seven-point run halfway through the first quarter, and from that place on, the Muskies never led again. The home side cut Wheaton's lead back down to one minutes later, but a three-point shot from Hannah Swider helped the Thunder keep their opponents at arm's length. Lily Schwen converted a layup on the final possession to give Wheaton a 15-8 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter was even more one-sided as the Thunder found their shooting groove and stretched the lead to 14 by halftime. Tate and Swider put up most of the scoring efforts for the away side in this period, but Ellie Cassel and Zoe Nordling both chipped in with decisive baskets, as well. Lakeland also improved offensively down the stretch in the first half, but they could not manage to chisel their deficit down to single digits before the halftime buzzer sounded. Wheaton shot 41.7% from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, while Lakeland had to settle for a meager 18.8% mark, and this contrast was the single biggest factor contributing to the comfortable position Wheaton found themselves in halfway through the game.

The two teams spent most of the third quarter exchanging buckets, and it seemed like the second half would only be a reflection of the first. But a six-zero run by Lakeland in the last two minutes of the period made things interesting heading into the fourth. Kerstin Sauerbrei knocked down back-to-back threes courtesy of assists from teammate Kacey Gardner, and Wheaton were forced to contend with Lakeland's most dangerous shooter on the night dragging her team back into the contest. Fortunately for the Thunder, veteran guard Hannah Swider stepped up and drilled a quick-response three with 30 seconds to go in the quarter to give Wheaton a seven-point lead once again.

In similar fashion, the first half of the fourth quarter also saw Lakeland and Wheaton trading layups, as the hosts sought a way back into the game and the visitors refusing to see their lead disappear. With 6:12 remaining, the Thunder held a 50-40 advantage, and then it became a battle of nerves as both teams earned multiple trips to the free throw line in quick succession. A Lakeland layup with 4:39 on the clock trimmed Wheaton's lead to nine, but successful free throws from Tate, one from Cassel, and a running jumper from Schwen in the next two and a half minutes put the game out of reach. 

Annie Tate was once again the star of the show for the Thunder, leading all scorers with 21 points. She added 12 rebounds and three assists to earn her second double-double in as many road trips this season. Hannah Swider knocked down three threes and registered 15 points in a clutch performance. Ellie Cassel came thisclose to marking her birthday with a double-double of her own, as the junior put up nine points and eleven rebounds in Tuesday's contest.

The box score stats tell the story of Wheaton's control, with the Thunder posting a 38.3% shooting percentage compared to just 26.2% for the Muskies. Wheaton also held important advantages in the second chance points and points in the paint categories, out-gaining Lakeland 11-4 in the former area and 26-20 in the latter. Conversely, the hosts posted a better three-point percentage than the Thunder, with Lakeland shooting 31.3% from beyond the arc. The Muskies also edged their guests in points off of turnovers, 15-12. The two teams both registered nine points from bench players and earned comparable marks from the free throw line - Wheaton shooting 54.5% and Lakeland, 52%.

Looking to preserve their perfect record this season, the Thunder will now prepare for their upcoming trip to the west coast. The team faces Chapman University and University of Redlands on Friday and Saturday, respectively, as part of the Redlands Tip-Off Classic being hosted by the California school.