Wheaton, Ill. -- After beginning the 2025-26 schedule in Ohio last weekend, the Thunder women's basketball team took the court inside King Arena for the first time this season on Friday night, welcoming Lake Forest College for a Beth Baker Classic semifinal matchup. Wheaton led wire-to-wire in tonight's contest and eventually claimed a straightforward 65-45 victory to improve to 2-1 on the young campaign and secure its place in Saturday's Championship game. The tournament hosts will take on Simpson College in the headline fixture after the Storm defeated Alma College, 73-70, in their competitive semifinal battle. Lake Forest, now 1-2 on the year, will face the Scots in Saturday's consolation game immediately before the championship.
Friday's contest marked the first time in six years that Wheaton played against Lake Forest, and tonight's game unfolded similarly to their two most recent meetings, with the Thunder controlling proceedings en route to a double-digit win. Both sides notched their first points at the free throw line before a layup by
Kate Oliver in the paint put Wheaton up, 4-2, and the hosts held the lead from that moment onward. A lane layup from the Foresters cut the Thunder's advantage down to 8-6 four minutes into the game, but Wheaton mounted an 8-0 run to surge ahead by double figures. Home debutante
Paige Ferwerda capped the first quarter's action with a fast break bucket and a steal that cemented the Thunder's lead at 18-7 heading into the second period.
Lake Forest more than doubled its scoring output in the next frame but never got within nine points of the home side's lead, as Wheaton maintained its offensive production and forced numerous turnovers to prevent its guest from developing a smooth rhythm. A three-pointer at the end of the third quarter gave LFC a boost and drew the Midwest Conference squad back within ten, but the Thunder drained a triple of their own at the start of the fourth and maintained a double-digit edge the rest of the way.
Wheaton shot 41% from the floor in its first home game including a 54% mark in the second quarter that helped create permanent separation on the scoreboard. The hosts limited their fellow suburbanites to a 31% shooting figure on the night and allowed just five field goals in the first half, as Lake Forest finished the game with the same number of made baskets as free throws. The Foresters earned a slight rebounding advantage at 37-34 and enjoyed a more successful outing at the foul line, but their shooting woes and high turnover count proved too much to overcome. Lake Forest turned the ball over 30 times and Wheaton stole it away 20 times, marking the Thunder's first 20-steal performance since a 90-33 win over Blackburn College in the opening game of the 2016 Baker Classic. Tonight's steal total also matches the Blackburn showing for the most takeaways by one team in a single game in the history of the tournament.
Wheaton tallied 32 points in the paint and an impressive 24 points off of turnovers while also benefiting from strong production off the bench and on the fast break.
Kate Oliver scored a game-high 21 points this evening, shot over 50% from the field, and collected five rebounds, two steals, and one blocked shot.
Lily Caddow (
pictured right) posted 14 points, a career-high six steals, four boards, and two assists while also shooting +50% in a solid all-around performance.
Chloe Kostka and Ferwerda
were the team's next-highest scorers on seven points each, with the former draining a pair of threes and nicking two takeaways and the latter also grabbing two steals and blocking a game-high two attempts.
Jenna Hunter and
Petra Trumbach both brought down seven rebounds, as Trumbach led all players with five offensive boards and three assists.
Lydia Brogan contributed five points, three rebounds, and two assists in the victory.
Having enjoyed a smooth home opener, Wheaton will be looking to win the Beth Baker Classic for a third-straight season when it takes on Simpson in Saturday's tournament championship. The Thunder and the Storm are set to meet at approximately 4:00 PM in King Arena following the conclusion of Alma and Lake Forest's 2:00 PM contest.
