Wheaton, Ill. - An early conference test went the way of the orange and blue on Saturday night as the #13-ranked Thunder women's basketball team knocked off previously unbeaten and #24-ranked North Central 100-86 at King Arena. Wheaton led wire to wire in winning its sixth straight game and improving to 13-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play. North Central's best start in program history came to end with the Cardinals dropping to 13-1 overall and 2-1 in the CCIW. North Central was ranked for the first time since 1990. Wheaton will travel to North Park on Wednesday night for a 7 PM matchup against the Vikings.

Wheaton shot 48.8% (39-80) from the field including 35.7% (5-14) from the three-point line and 63% (17-27) from the free throw line. North Central was held to 38% (30-79) from the field including 31.1% (14-45) from beyond the arc and 63.2% (12-19) from the free throw line. Entering the game ranked sixth in Division III in rebounding margin, the Thunder dominated the battle of the boards, outrebounding the Cardinals 67-35 including a 27-12 advantage on the offensive glass. North Central entered the game leading Division III in offensive rebounding with an average of 26 per game. Wheaton's 67 rebounds was just one shy of tying a program record for most team rebounds in a game. The rebound totals were both season-lows for the Cardinals.

Wheaton jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the opening minute and methodically pushed the lead out to double dights at 17-6 with a Sarah Drury lay-up just six minutes into the game. Wheaton lead would extend to as many as 17 in the first half but after a Hannah Considine lay-up with 10:24 to play in the half put Wheaton ahead 25-14, the Thunder would lead by no less than 11 for the remainder of the first half. Wheaton's lead stood at 17 with a minute to play in the first half but consecutive three-pointers by the Cardinals pushed Wheaton's halftime edge back to 49-36.

The Cardinals came charging out of the locker room with some hot shooting from the three-point line. North Central connected on three-pointers on five of its first seven possessions of the seocn dhalf, cutting the Thunder lead down to five at 56-51 with 16:47 to play. Wheaton responded with a 6-0 run to push the lead back into double figures.

North Central chipped away at the Thunder lead through the middle of the half and got as close as four at 66-62 with 11:09 to play. Jennifer Berg came up big for the hosts down the stretch, answering a Jamie Cuny three-pointer with a three-point play to put Wheaton ahead 72-65 at the midway point of the second half. Berg converted another three-point play later in the half and it was her three-pointer with 5:32 to play that put Wheaton head 86-75. A 7-0 Thunder run from there gave Wheaton some breathing room down the stretch and pair of free throws from Ellie Zeller accounted for Wheaton's final spread of 100-86.

Hannah Considine's led all players with a career night, posting 36 points and 21 rebounds, both career highs. Berg also career highs with 14 points, 7 rebounds and five assists off the bench for the Thunder. Ellie Zeller scored 11 points with eight rebounds. Katie McDaniels and Moriah Reeves each finished with 10 points and Chantal Meacham (PICTURED RIGHT) scored nine points with a career-high 10 assists. Tess Godhardt led the Cardinals with 16 points.

Wheaton will travel to North Park on Wednesday night when the Thunder take on the North Park Vikings at 7 PM.

Note Worthy: Wheaton has now posted 100 points or more in four of its last five meetings against the Cardinals...Considine's 21 rebounds are the second-highest single-game total in program history, trailing Maris Hovee's 22 rebounds against UW-Whitewater last season...Considine's 36 points are the fifth-highest single-game total in program history.