Wheaton, Ill. -- The Wheaton women's basketball team was victorious in its last home game, but after consecutive conference defeats on the road last week, the Thunder returned to King Arena on Wednesday night looking to get back in the win column. Just one week after suffering a lopsided loss to a strong Augustana outfit in Rock Island, Wheaton returned the favor this evening with an impressive 18-point win to earn a regular season series split with the Vikings. The Thunder are now 4-6 in CCIW action and improve to 11-8 on the year as a result of tonight's statement performance.

Facing off against a team situated above them in the conference standings that had just beaten them seven days prior and without multiple important players in the lineup, the hosts knew they would have to start Wednesday's contest brightly if they wanted to spring the upset. Annie Tate, this evening's leading scorer, settled the nerves by calmly knocking down three foul shots to give Wheaton its first lead of the game and scooped in a layup two minutes later to tie it at 5-5. Augustana threatened to create permanent separation with a subsequent 7-0 run, but the Thunder reeled their visitors from the west back in via an 8-2 surge bookended by a pair of Alyssa Faberowski three-pointers. A successful jump shot then gave Wheaton a 15-14 advantage at the end of a scrappy and whistle-laden first quarter.

Augustana registered the first two baskets of the second frame, and the scoreline hovered between a three- and one-point lead for the visitors in the following exchanges, as Wheaton maintained its intensity but struggled to hit the shots it needed to pull in front. But the home side conjured up a 7-0 run in the middle of the period capped off by a Tate three to build a 31-27 lead, and Augie faced an uphill battle from that point on due to Wheaton's defensive pressure and game management. After a competitive and see-saw first half, the Thunder took a narrow 33-31 edge into the locker room.

The third quarter proved decisive in Wednesday's meeting, as Wheaton outscored their favored guests 19-10 in the period and never trailed after the 6:45 mark. After Augustana dropped in five quick points to go up 36-35, the Thunder answered with another seven-point run to further grow in confidence. The Vikings pulled themselves back in the contest at 42-41 with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter, but the hosts rattled off the next ten points to establish a secure lead at 52-41 heading into the final frame. Four different players scored in the quarter-ending 10-0 surge to underline the team effort on display in this evening's result, and a Kate Oliver step-back jumper just before the horn punctuated Wheaton's momentum. The Thunder held Augustana to just eight points in the fourth quarter and enjoyed a double-digit lead on the scoreboard for the duration of the period. The Vikings were never given the chance to mount a comeback, as Wheaton stymied the visitors' offensive production and scored the necessary points to maintain its cushion.

The Thunder held Augie to a 31.7% shooting mark on Wednesday, including a meager 3-15 total in the final period, while posting a 42.6% figure themselves for the game. Neither team had their best night beyond the arc, but Wheaton edged the Vikings in three-point shooting at 31% to 20%. The hosts had another strong showing at the foul line, making 16 of their 18 attempts, while Augustana failed to hit 50% of its free throws. Wheaton edged the rebounding battle at 40-37 and forced two more turnovers than their guests did. Augie created more second chance points and had more points in the paint, but Wheaton's notable advantages in points off of turnovers and bench points ultimately made a difference in the final scoreline.

Tate scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead all players this evening. Faberowski and Jenna Hunter, who made her first collegiate start on Wednesday, both registered 11 points, while the former grabbed three boards and dished out a joint team-high three assists and the latter came up with a pair of steals and made all five of her shot attempts. Alexis Martin (pictured right) had a standout performance in her 23 minutes of action, going for nine points, eight rebounds, and contributing to Wheaton's impressive tally of 13 steals with a game-best five takeaways. Ana Mooney and Kate Oliver each contributed seven points in the win, with Oliver also grabbing three boards and earning a pair of assists.

After a comfortable and satisfying home victory, Wheaton now gets to enjoy the weekend off. With no game scheduled for Saturday, the Thunder will return to the conference rotation next Wednesday night when the squad heads to Bloomington to take on #11 Illinois Wesleyan University.