The Carthage College women's basketball team (5-1, 0-0 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin), ranked 22nd in the Dec. 4 Women's Basketball Coaches Association/USA Today/ESPN NCAA Division III poll and 28th in the Dec. 4 "D3hoops.com" poll, thumped Trine University (3-4), 84-34, on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis.
Trine had an early, 12-9 lead at 13:18. Following a 17-17 tie at 9:03, Carthage took a 19-17 lead at 7:23 on a layup by Stephanie Kuzmanic. The Lady Reds pulled away as the half wound down, taking a 13-point lead, 32-19, with 43 seconds left. Carthage led by 12 at the break, 32-20. The Thunder simply could not score in the second half, and the Lady Reds pretty much scored at will. From the time of that 17-17 at 09:03 first half until the 3:11 mark second period, Carthage out-scored Trine by a whopping, 65-9 margin to take a 56-point lead, 82-26. The Thunder managed only 17 second-half points, as the Lady Reds won by 50, 84-34.
Carthage shot 52 percent (33-63), including 66 percent in the first half (21-32), while Trine shot just 23 percent (13-57). The Lady Reds connected on 10-of-25 three-pointers, while the Thunder sank just two-of-20 from beyond the arc. Carthage enjoyed a 52-31 rebounding edge. Four Lady Reds scored in double figures.
Kasey Kleiner (So., South Milwaukee, Wis./Somers-Shoreland Lutheran) came off the bench to scored a game-high 15 points on five-of-seven field goals, all from three-point range. Kristi Schmidt (Jr., Bloomington, Ill./Normal-Community) had 14 points and 10 rebounds, Haley Stercic (Jr., Chicago, Ill./Marist) 12 points with four assists, and Cailee Corcoran (Sr., Oak Lawn, Ill./Chicago-Marist) added 10 points and a game-high 11 boards. Kayla Dunn led Trine with 10 points.
"We were in sort of a fog for the first few minutes," said Carthage coach Tim Bernero, "and we were playing at Trine's free-and-easy tempo. Even though we only had six turnovers in the first half, it felt like we were throwing the ball all over the place. The offense finally kicked in during the second half. Once it started flowing, the game got away from Trine. We did a nice job at getting the ball to Kasey Kleiner when she got hot. She gives us another weapon. Loras will be a tough game on Saturday. They're deep with a bunch of juniors and seniors and will be looking for a big win on the road."
Carthage plays host to Loras College (6-1) on Saturday, Dec. 8 in a 2 p.m. game, also at Tarble Arena.
The Carthage College women's basketball team (5-1, 0-0 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin), ranked 22nd in the Dec. 4 Women's Basketball Coaches Association/USA Today/ESPN NCAA Division III poll and 28th in the Dec. 4 "D3hoops.com" poll, thumped Trine University (3-4), 84-34, on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis.
Trine had an early, 12-9 lead at 13:18. Following a 17-17 tie at 9:03, Carthage took a 19-17 lead at 7:23 on a layup by Stephanie Kuzmanic. The Lady Reds pulled away as the half wound down, taking a 13-point lead, 32-19, with 43 seconds left. Carthage led by 12 at the break, 32-20. The Thunder simply could not score in the second half, and the Lady Reds pretty much scored at will. From the time of that 17-17 at 09:03 first half until the 3:11 mark second period, Carthage out-scored Trine by a whopping, 65-9 margin to take a 56-point lead, 82-26. The Thunder managed only 17 second-half points, as the Lady Reds won by 50, 84-34.
Carthage shot 52 percent (33-63), including 66 percent in the first half (21-32), while Trine shot just 23 percent (13-57). The Lady Reds connected on 10-of-25 three-pointers, while the Thunder sank just two-of-20 from beyond the arc. Carthage enjoyed a 52-31 rebounding edge. Four Lady Reds scored in double figures. Kasey Kleiner (So., South Milwaukee, Wis./Somers-Shoreland Lutheran) came off the bench to scored a game-high 15 points on five-of-seven field goals, all from three-point range. Kristi Schmidt (Jr., Bloomington, Ill./Normal-Community) had 14 points and 10 rebounds, Stephanie Kuzmanic (Jr., Mount Prospect, Ill./Wheeling) 12 points with four assists, and Cailee Corcoran (Sr., Oak Lawn, Ill./Chicago-Marist) added 10 points and a game-high 11 boards. Kayla Dunn led Trine with 10 points.
"We were in sort of a fog for the first few minutes," said Carthage coach Tim Bernero, "and we were playing at Trine's free-and-easy tempo. Even though we only had six turnovers in the first half, it felt like we were throwing the ball all over the place. The offense finally kicked in during the second half. Once it started flowing, the game got away from Trine. We did a nice job at getting the ball to Kasey Kleiner when she got hot. She gives us another weapon. Loras will be a tough game on Saturday. They're deep with a bunch of juniors and seniors and will be looking for a big win on the road." Carthage plays host to Loras College (6-1) on Saturday, Dec. 8 in a 2 p.m. game, also at Tarble Arena.