Decatur, Ill. – The Wheaton College women's basketball team took control early and used its strong shooting to earn an 87-51 victory at Millikin University (15-8/7-5 CCIW) on Wednesday night. Wheaton is now 17-6 on the season and 10-3 in the CCIW. Tonight's win assures Wheaton no worse than the number-two seed in next weekend's CCIW Women's Basketball Tournament on February 25-26.
Wheaton scored the first 17 points of tonight's game until the Big Blue registered its first field goal of the night with 12:14 remaining in the first half, at which point the Thunder led 17-2. The strong opening allowed Wheaton to lead Millikin 48-21 at halftime. Wheaton shot 46.2% (18-39) from the field in the first half, including a blistering 66.7% (8-12) effort from behind the three-point arc. The Thunder also controlled the glass in the first half with a 25-16 advantage for the Thunder in rebounding and Thunder forced 10 Big Blue turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
The Thunder scored the first seven points of the second half to increase its lead to 55-21 with 17:00 left in the game. Wheaton's biggest lead of the game was a 41-point bulge at 66-25 with 14:30 remaining in regulation as the Thunder remained in control en route to the eventual 36-point victory.
Junior Laura Karsten led five Wheaton players who scored in double digits as she tallied 17 points, on 6-for-8 shooting from the field, including 4-for-4 from three-point range. The versatile Karsten also collected 14 rebounds, with four assists in just 26 minutes of work. Sophomore Brooke Olson scored 12 points, with three assists. Junior Lindsey Brenneman scored 10 points, distributed a game-high nine rebounds and grabbed five rebounds. Breanna Bohlen and Kelly Brooks each scored 10 points for the guests.
Julia Robert led Millikin with 12 points, and seven rebounds. Crystal Zeigler scored 11 points and grabbed seven boards, while Cecily Aldridge scored 10 points, with six rebounds off of the Big Blue bench. Elise Wildman scored eight points and grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds for Millikin.
Wheaton finished with a 47.1% (33-40) field goal percentage in the game, including 64.7% (11-17) from three-point range and the team shot 66.7% (10-15) at the free throw line. Millikin shot 27.1% (19-70) from the field, with 17.9% (5-28) from three-point range and 88.9% (8-9) at the free throw line. The Thunder out-rebounded the hosts 49-40, with the Big Blue holding a 15-13 edge on the offensive glass.