Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton women's basketball team picked up a 68-41 victory against Loras College (6-5) at home on Wednesday afternoon. Wheaton, ranked 14th in the most recent D3hoops.com Top-25 poll, is now 10-1 on the year. Today's contest marked the final non-conference game of the season for the Thunder as the team opens conference play at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday at Elmhurst College.
Wheaton never trailed in today's contest as the Thunder jumped out to a 13-2 lead in the first six minutes of the game. Wheaton's 13-2 advantage with 13:56 remaining in the first half was the largest lead of the opening half. The Thunder led 28-19 at halftime as the Duhawks used a 25-16 edge in rebounds and a 9-for-12 effort at the free throw line to remain within nine points of the hosts. Loras' rebounding advantage included a 9-6 edge on the offensive glass that helped the guests score 10 of their 19 first-half points on second-chance points.
Wheaton pulled away early following halftime as the Thunder used a 23-2 run early in the second half that allowed the hosts to increase a 32-26 lead with 17:20 left in the game to a 55-28 advantage with 8:51 remaining in the contest. Wheaton's largest lead of the game was a 30-point bulge. It was the hosts that dominated on the glass in the second half as the Thunder owned a 32-15 rebounding advantage in the final 20 minutes.
Junior Ellie Zeller scored 20 points to lead the Thunder in scoring and she added six rebounds. Junior Hannah Considine recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Lauren Graham scored seven points, while the trio of Chantal Meacham, Katie McDaniels and Kelly Lawson each contributed six points. Freshman Jennifer Berg grabbed seven rebounds with Mel Bremhorst collecting six boards. McDaniels led the Thunder with four assists.
Wheaton shot 37.5% (24-of-64) from the field, including 18.8% (3-of-16) from three-point range and 77.3% (17-for-22) at the free throw line. Loras posted a 20.4% (11-for-54) field goal percentage, with 14.3% (2-for-14) behind the three-point arc and a 73.9% (17-of-23) effort at the free throw line. Wheaton's strong second half on the glass propelled the Thunder to a 48-40 advantage in rebounding, including a 17-13 edge on the offensive glass.
Victoria May and Lori Obendorf led the Duhawks with six points each in the game. May grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and Obendorf collected 11 boards.