NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Carroll's women's basketball team, ranked 20th in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25, tickled the twine to the tune of 52 percent (31-60) Saturday night, including 50 percent (4-8) from 3-point range, en route to an 82-73 win at North Central (Ill.). That marks Carroll's fifth consecutive victory, and is their 14th win in the team's last 15 games. The victory also marks Carroll's 19th of the season, which is tied for the fourth-most single season wins in program history, and is just the second time the program has won at least 19 games in back-to-back seasons.
Carroll (19-4, 12-2 CCIW) never trailed in Saturday's game, as sophomore Emilie Wizner, who entered the day ranking second in Division-III in 3-point shooting (.483), started the game with a 3-pointer for the Pioneers to break the scoreless tie. Wizner would score the game's first eight points, which was part of a 10-0 run in the first two and a half minutes of the contest. Eleven of Wizner's 18 points came in the opening quarter, including a third 3-pointer, giving the Pioneers a 30-17 lead after one quarter of play. North Central battled back to outscore the Pios in the second quarter, as Carroll took an eight-point lead into intermission.
In the second half, Lauren Soyke opened the scoring with a layup to give Carroll a double-digit lead once more. That was part of a 7-0 lead to begin the half, putting the Pioneers in full control of the game. They would lead 69-54 after three quarters, before coasting to victory. Carroll out-rebounded North Central 44-36, while limiting the Cardinals to 38 percent (27-71) shooting.
Olivia Rangel, who entered the game as the conference's second-leading scorer, played all but one minute for the Pioneers, scoring a team-high 19 points, to go along with five rebounds and a team-high five assists. Wizner's 18 points came on 6-of-9 shooting, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range, while Natalie Gricius added 10 points and four rebounds. All 10 Carroll players to see playing time scored at least two points.
North Central was led by Elle Sutter's 21 points, five rebounds, four assists, and six steals. Megan McClure added 15 points for the Cardinals, while Jocelyn Trotter finished with 13 points and eight boards.
The Pioneers will be in action again on Wednesday when they'll travel to Elmhurst College. That game will begin at 7 p.m. in Elmhurst, Ill.