The Carthage College women's basketball team (14-4, 5-2 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin), ranked 32nd in the Jan. 24 "D3hoops.com" poll, trounced CCIW-opponent Elmhurst College (14-4, 5-2 CCIW), 72-53, on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis.  The win left the Lady Reds in a three-way for second place in the CCIW with Elmhurst and Wheaton College (Ill.), each team two games behind league-leading Illinois Wesleyan University at 7-0.

Carthage took control of the game in the opening minute and then really took control.  The Lady Reds took a 15-2 lead at 16:14.  After the Bluejays pulled to within six points, 16-10, at 12:59, Carthage outscored Elmhurst, 26-7, over the next 12 minutes to take a 25-point lead, 42-17, with 45 seconds remaining.  The Lady Reds led by 23 at halftime, 42-19, and shot 58 percent in the period (18-31), while limiting the Bluejays to 32 percent shooting (8-25).  Elmhurst got no closer than 16 points in the second half, once at 46-30 at 15:30 and again at 50-34 at 13:02.  Carthage led by as much as 27 points, 67-40, at 7:38 and went on to win by 19, 72-53.

The Lady Reds shot 54 percent (29-54), including four-of-10 from three-point range, while the Bluejays shot just 34 percent (18-53), including three-of-14 three-pointers.  Carthage connected on 10-of-16 free throws, while Elmhurst converted 14-of-22.  The Lady Reds had a 37-30 rebounding advantage.

Four Carthage starters scored in double figures.  Diana Jacklin (Sr., Berwyn, Ill./Morton West) led the way with a game-high 17 points on eight-of-11 field goals and one-of-five free throws, along with eight rebounds and four assists.  Allison Groessl (Sr., Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South) scored 13 points on five-of-eight shooting.  Cailee Corcoran (Jr., Oak Lawn, Ill./Chicago-Marist) had 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while Dani Ripkey (Sr., Deerfield, Ill.) added 10 points.  Devin Vaughn was the lone Elmhurst player in double figures with 16 points. 

"We led the country in field-goal percentage two years ago when we went to the 'sweet 16,'" said Carthage coach Tim Bernero.  Last year, I think we were 16th, and now we're back to No. 1, so there's something to this offensive system and to the players that work to that level.  Then you just say, 'well, if we don't turn it over and shoot at that pace, we're really going to be hard to beat.'  The first half was really good.  If we play like that, we can play with anybody in the country." (courtesy of the Kenosha News)

Carthage entertains conference-opponent North Central College (6-12, 0-7 CCIW) on Saturday, Jan. 28 in a 5:30 p.m. game, also at Tarble Arena.