ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst women's basketball team's upset bid of 14th-ranked Wheaton College came up short as the Bluejays dropped a 69-61 decision to the Thunder.

Elmhurst (8-5, 0-2 CCIW) led for the majority of the contest and built an 11-point second-half lead before Wheaton (12-1, 2-0 CCIW) closed the game on a 12-4 run to score its 10th straight victory.

Elmhurst raced out to an early 14-4 lead to start the contest, but Wheaton answered back with a 13-2 run to pull ahead by one. Trailing by a point with 3:32 left in the opening the half, the Bluejays closed the half on an 8-2 run, capped by a Hannah Lipman bank shot, to put Elmhurst up 31-25 at the half.

The Bluejays started quickly in the second half, pushing their lead up to 11 points after a Claire Monroe three-pointer with 15 minutes remaining. Wheaton answered right back, ripping off 10 straight points in the next four minutes to pull to within a point.  Wheaton jumped in front on an Ellie Zeller lay-up with 7:17 remaining, but the Bluejays evened the score at 57-57 with 4:27 left on a Fiona McMahon jumper.

Elmhurst struggled for the rest of the contest as the Bluejays were held without a field goal and netted just four points from the foul line. Wheaton surged in front with a bucket from Maris Hovee, but a pair of free throws from McMahon tied the score at 61-61 with 2:05 left on the clock.

After a missed Wheaton jumper and an Elmhurst turnover, the Thunder took a 62-61 lead on a Maria Panaggio free throw. Panaggio missed her second free throw but Wheaton collected the offensive rebound leading to a bucket from Hovee.

The Bluejays turned the ball over on their next possession and Zeller hit a pair of free throws after being fouled while driving to the basket to give Wheaton a 66-61 lead. The Thunder hit three free throws in the closing 17 seconds to pull away for the eight-point win.

Elmhurst shot 40.0 percent (24-of-60) from the floor, including 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from downtown. Wheaton shot 41.0 percent (25-of-61), including 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from three-point range.

McMahon scored a game-high 22 points while also collecting 10 rebounds and blocking three shots to pace the Bluejays in the loss. Karen Senette added 13 points for the Bluejays while Monroe and Lipman totaled six points apiece.

Zeller led the Thunder with 17 points while Katie McDaniels totaled 14 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Hovee finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Thunder.

Elmhurst hosts Millikin University on Saturday, January 11.