The Carthage College women's basketball team (12-2, 3-0 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin), ranked 23rd in the Jan. 10 "D3hoops.com" poll and 25th in the Jan. 10 Women's Basketball Coaches Association/USA Today/ESPN NCAA Division III poll, won its sixth game in a row on Wednesday, Jan. 11 with a 55-33 victory over CCIW-opponent North Park University (6-8, 0-3 CCIW) at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis. 

In a slow-moving and sloppy first half, the Lady Reds led by five points at the break, 21-16, after leading by as much as seven, 17-10, at 5:42.  Carthage broke the game open with a 17-2 run to start the second half, going up by 20 points, 38-18, at 11:49.  The Lady Reds led by as much as 29 points in the second half, 50-21, at 6:28 and cruised to a 22-point decision, 55-33.

Carthage shot 44 percent (20-46), including five-of-15 three-pointers, while North Park connected at just a 26 percent clip (13-51), including one-of-10 from three-point range.  The Lady Reds converted 10-of-14 free throws and out-rebounded the Vikings, 37-29. 

Three Carthage players scored in double figures.  Diana Jacklin (Sr., Berwyn, Ill./Morton West) scored a game-high 14 points on five-of-eight field goals and four-of-seven free throws, along with a game high 12 rebounds and five blocked shots.  Allison Groessl (Sr., Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South) had 12 points on four-of-four three-pointers, and Gabby Chapa (So., Barrington, Ill./Lake Zurich) came off the bench to add 11 points on five-of-six shooting.  Roxanne Jones topped North Park with eight points.

"For a team that's usually pretty good, offensively," said Carthage coach Tim Bernero, "we just weren't sharp in the first half.  They had something to do with that.  They played hard and got after us.  I thought we were pretty good sticking to the game plan, defensively, and making it hard for them to score.  I think we will rise to the occasion on Saturday at Illinois Wesleyan.  I think we are the better team—I really do.  The pressure on them. because it's their home game.  If we win, they're chasing us.  If they win, it puts a premium on us winning at home." (courtesy of the Kenosha News)

On Saturday, Jan. 14, the Lady Reds travel to Bloomington, Ill., to take on conference-opponent and No. 30 Illinois Wesleyan University (10-4, 3-0 CCIW) in a 5 p.m. game at the Shirk Center.