Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton women's basketball team wrapped up its 2024 Beth Baker Classic on Saturday evening in King Arena. The Thunder defeated Whitworth University 75-69 as Wheaton was the only team to post a 2-0 record at the tournament. Wheaton is now 2-1 on the season as the Thunder remain home next Tuesday night to host Ripon at 5:00 p.m.

Wheaton junior Kate Oliver led all players with 17 points in tonight's win against Whitworth, adding 12 rebounds to record a "double-double" Senior Annika Richardson also had a "double-double" with 13 points and 10 rebounds, adding four assists. Both Oliver and Richardson were named to the Beth Baker Classic All-Tournament Team, with Richardson being named the Tournament MVP.

Alyssa Faberowski scored 13 points, highlighted by a team-high three three-pointers, and she added four assists. Alexis Martin scored 11 points with five rebounds. Freshman Grace Kizer scored nine points off of the Thunder bench, and sophomore Lily Caddow added eight points with five rebounds.

The Thunder shot 37.7% (26-of-61) from the field, including 32.3% (10-of-31) from three-point range. The Pirates had a 35.9% (23-of-64) field goal percentage, including 37.1% (13-of-35) behind the three-point arc. Wheaton shot 73.1% (19-of-26) at the free throw line and the Pirates had a 90.9% (10-of-11) effort at the charity stripe. The Thunder out-rebounded Whitworth 42-39, with a 10-8 edge on the offensive glass for the hosts.
Mya Blair scored a team-high 16 points for Whitworth, adding eight rebounds. Ashlyn Peterson, an all-tournament selection, scored 13 points, with six assists and six rebounds.

Whitworth scored the first nine points of the game as the Pirates led 9-0 with 6:40 remaining in the first quarter. Wheaton responded with a 16-3 run as the Thunder led 16-12 with 3:20 left in the first. Wheaton continued to surge in closing out the first quarter as Wheaton led 27-18 at the conclusion of the opening quarter. Oliver scored nine points in the first 10 minutes and Richardson added eight points.

Whitworth battled back in the second quarter, regaining the lead late in the quarter. Faberowski hit a jumper in the closing seconds of the first half to give Wheaton a 41-40 halftime lead.

The Thunder out-scored the Pirates 11-2 to open the third quarter as the hosts lead 52-42 with 3:54 remaining in the quarter. Wheaton led 61-50 at the end of the third. Kizer shot 3-for-5 from the field in the third quarter as she led Wheaton with seven points in the quarter and Faberowski added six points.

Faberowski scored the first basket of the fourth quarter to give Wheaton its largest lead of the game with a 13-point edge at 63-50 with 9:15 remaining in the game. The Pirates responded after the field goal with a 13-3 run that trimmed Wheaton's lead to 66-63 with 5:30 remaining in the contest. Caddow made the first of two free throw attempts with 3:33 remaining to increase Wheaton's lead to 67-63 and when she missed the second free throw, Caddow collected the rebound, and she dished the ball off to Faberowski for a key three-pointer that extended Wheaton's lead to 70-63 with 3:27 left. The hosts held off Whitworth's attempts at a rally as the Thunder emerged with the 75-69 victory.