Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton Thunder women's basketball team (6-2, 1-2 CCIW) hosted No. 24 Illinois Wesleyan (8-2, 3-0 CCIW) on Wednesday night in a CCIW contest in King Arena. The Titans utilized a strong defense to create baskets as the guests defeated the Thunder 74-49.

Senior Annie Tate led the Thunder tonight with 18 points, six rebounds and three assists. Caroline Sikkink tallied 11 points, with four rebounds. Annika Richardson scored six points, with eight rebounds for the hosts.

The Thunder shot 40.9% (18-of-44) from the field, including 18.8% (3-for-16) behind the three-point arc. The Titans posted a 44.3% (27-of-61) field goal percentage, including 42.3% (11-of-26) from three-point range. Wheaton out-rebounded the guests 33-29, with a 7-3 advantage for the guests on the offensive glass. The Titans took advantage of 26 Wheaton turnovers to out-score the Thunder 30-6 off of turnovers. Illinois Wesleyan's pressing defense and the turnovers helped the guests in transition as they out-scored the Thunder 19-2 in fast break points.

Wheaton led 7-7 with 5:23 remaining in the first quarter when Tate made back-to-back baskets followed by a three-pointer for Richardson to give Wheaton a seven-point lead at 14-7 with 4:27 left in the opening quarter. Illinois Wesleyan closed out the first quarter with a 12-3 run to lead Wheaton 19-17 after the first period.

The Titans scored the first seven points of the second quarter to build up a nine nine-point lead at 26-17 with 7:00 left in the first half. The Thunder trimmed the guests' lead to 26-23 with 4:25 left in the second quarter, however, the Titans closed out the quarter with a 16-7 run that allowed Illinois Wesleyan hold a 42-30 advantage at the halftime intermission.

Tate led all scorers in the second quarter with 10 points as she tallied 14 first-half points to lead all scorers. Richardson tallied six points in the opening half.

Illinois Wesleyan scored the first 10 points of the third quarter as they increased their lead to 22 points at 52-30 with 4:50 left in the third quarter. The Titans led by 23 points at the conclusion of the third quarter as the Titans won by a 25-point margin at 74-49.

Wheaton travels to fifth-ranked UW-Whitewater on Saturday afternoon for a tilt against the Warhawks at 3:00 p.m.