Wheaton, Ill. – After consecutive road tests in the state of Wisconsin last week, the Wheaton women's basketball team returned to King Arena on Tuesday to host the University of Dubuque. The Thunder snapped their three-game skid this evening with a 54-43 win over the Spartans. The 43 points allowed marks Wheaton's lowest opponent total of the season to date and helped the hosts improve their record to 3-4, while Dubuque falls to 2-4.
Tonight's meeting was the first between the two programs since 2015, and this unfamiliarity showed early as both offenses struggled to find rhythm. Wheaton's opening points came on a triple from
Lauryn Ham that tied the game at 3-3. The first period featured three ties, and Dubuque's largest lead was four, taking an 11-7 advantage. The final two minutes went scoreless until a buzzer-beating layup gave the Spartans a 13-11 edge heading into the second period.
Chloe Kostka opened the second quarter with a three, putting Wheaton ahead, 14-13. The Thunder would not trail again, maintaining control the rest of the way. Wheaton shot 50% from the field in the second frame and went perfect from the free-throw line while also forcing Dubuque into long, late-clock possessions that resulted in low-percentage attempts.
The second half began scoreless until a Dubuque three tied the game at 27 with 5:48 left in the third. Wheaton responded immediately with an 11-1 run over the next three minutes. In the fourth period, the Thunder attacked the paint with purpose, led by
Kate Oliver, who consistently drew fouls and created turnovers. Dubuque pulled within two at 39-37 with seven minutes to go, but a 10-3 Wheaton run over the next two and a half minutes helped seal the game. The home side limited its Iowa visitor to just three points in the final six minutes of play to confirm tonight's double-digit victory.
Wheaton shot 38.8% from the field and 76.5% from the line, allowing the Thunder to steadily extend their lead. Defensively, the hosts held Dubuque to 30.2% shooting, with the Spartans only making six field goals in the entire second half. The teams finished even on the glass at 34 rebounds each, while Wheaton won the turnover battle, 19-11 and grabbed 11 steals while also getting 21 points from its bench this evening.
A major factor in Wheaton's 26-16 advantage in the paint was the play of Oliver, who scored 15 points, added four rebounds, and recorded two steals. Freshman
Paige Ferwerda posted a career-high 11 points, along with four rebounds, three steals, and four blocks, the most by any Thunder player this season.
Petra Trumbach grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and added four takeaways. Ham contributed eight points, three rebounds, and a steal, while
Jenna Hunter pulled down a team-high two offensive boards, helping Wheaton tally eight second-chance points.
After a week-long break either side of the Thanksgiving holiday, Wheaton will continue its three-game homestand by opening conference play next Wednesday at 7:00 PM against the Carroll University Pioneers.
