Elmhurst, Ill. – The Wheaton Thunder women's basketball team opened CCIW play on Saturday with a 67-56 victory at Elmhurst College (7-5/0-1). Wheaton has now won four games in a row. The Thunder, ranked 14th in Division III by D3hoops.com, is 11-1 overall and 1-0 in CCIW play. Wheaton travels to Illinois Wesleyan on Wednesday for a 7:00 p.m. matchup with the Titans.
Elmhurst led early in the game, including a 21-14 lead for the Bluejays with 9:30 left in the first half. Wheaton closed out the half with a 22-9 scoring surge. Sophomore Katie McDaniels scored Wheaton's final eight points of the first half as she and the Thunder led 36-30 at halftime.
To begin the second half, the Bluejays chipped away at Wheaton's advantage, cutting the hosts' deficit to one point as Wheaton lead 44-43 with 12:40 left in regulation, however, the hosts never gained a lead. An offensive rebound by McDaniels led to a three-pointer for junior Ellie Zeller as the Wheaton lead increased to 49-45 with 10:15 remaining in the game. Zeller's trey sparked a 7-0 run for the Thunder that increased Wheaton's lead to 53-45 with 8:55 left in regulation. A key layup by McDaniels with 1:30 left in regulation put the Wheaton edge a t 61-56 and the guests would hold on to maintain the lead.
McDaniels led Thunder with 20 points and six rebounds. Junior Hannah Considine contributed 18 points, with six rebounds for the guests. Zeller scored nine points, with five assists, seven rebounds and three steals. Lauren Graham added added eight points with five rebounds.
Wheaton shot 46.3% (25-for-54) from the field, including a 66.7% (16-of-24) field goal percentage in the first half. The Thunder compiled a 25% (3-for-12) three-point field goal percentage and had a 66.7% (14-for-21) effort at the free throw line. Elmhurst shot 33.3% (19-for-57) from the floor, with 27.8% (5-for-18) from behind the three-point arc and 81.3% (13-of-16) at the charity stripe. Wheaton out-rebounded the Bluejays 39-25 and the hosts owned a 14-13 edge on the offensive glass.
Mikaela Eppard led Elmhurst with 16 points, 10 rebounds and four steals. Fiona McMahon scored 12 points, with eight rebounds for the Bluejays and Hannah Lipman scored 11 points with three steals. Kalia Summerlin contributed nine points for the hosts.