You'd call this a breather on the schedule.  The Carthage College women's basketball team (5-1, 0-0 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin), ranked 36th in the Nov. 29 "D3 hoops.com" poll, trounced Clarke University (0-7), 67-32, on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis.

Carthage led from opening tip, as the Lady Reds pulled away to an 11-point lead, 16-5, at 10:52.  The lead went to 22 points, 27-5, at 5:53, as the Crusaders went the first seven minutes and 17 seconds without making a field goal.  The Lady Reds led by 23 points at halftime, 37-14.  Carthage upped its to 30 points, 44-14, at 17:50 second half, and the Lady Reds led by as much as 39 points, 63-24 at 5:15.  Carthage went on to win by 35 points, 67-32.

Carthage shot 49 percent (25-51), while Clarke connected at just a 21 percent clip (9-42).  The Lady Reds out-rebounded the Crusaders, 44-30.  Kristi Schmidt (So., Bloomington, Ill./Normal-Community) came off the bench to lead Carthage with 14 points on five-of-six field goals and three-of-four free throws, along with five rebounds.  Dani Ripkey (Sr., Deerfield, Ill.) and Michelle Wenzel (So., Darien, Wis./Delavan-Darien) added 10 points and six rebounds each.  Carthage travels to Dubuque, Iowa, on Wednesday, Dec. 7 to play Loras College in a 6 p.m. game at the Athletic Wellness Center.