The Carthage College women's basketball team (6-1, 0-0 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) ranked 16th in the Dec. 3 "D3hoops.com" poll and 17th in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association/USA Today NCAA Division III poll, defeated Clarke University (6-6), 78-36, on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis. The win was the sixth in a row for the Lady Reds following a season-opening loss to Ohio Northern University.

Carthage opened up a 10-point lead. 16-6, at 9:08 and extended that to 20 points, 33-13, at 2:13.  The Lady Reds led the Crusaders by 22 points at the break, 37-15.  In the second half, Carthage went up by 30 points, 50-20, at 14:16 and led by as much as 46 points, 76-30, at 4:04.  The Lady Reds went on to win by 42 points, 78-36.  Carthage shot 48 percent (32-67), including eight-of-20 three-pointers.  Clarke shot just 27 percent (16-59), including three-of-17 from three-point range.  The Lady Reds out-rebounded the Crusaders, 45-35.  

Three Carthage starters scored in double figures.  Haley Stercic (Sr., Chicago, Ill./Marist) scored a game-high 12 points on four-of-nine three-pointers.  Kristi Schmidt (Sr., Bloomington, Ill./Normal-Community) had 11 points on four-of-seven shooting, along with seven rebounds, and Stephanie Kuzmanic (Sr., Mount Prospect, Ill./Wheeling) added 10 points, six rebounds and six assists.  Alexis Hahn (So., Itasca, Ill./Roselle-Lake Park) came off the bench to score 10 points on five-of-eight field goals, along with nine rebounds. 

Carthage plays host to Loras College (4-2) on Saturday, Dec. 7 in a 2 p.m. game, also at Tarble Arena.