The Carthage women's basketball team (12-8, 5-4 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) snapped a four-game losing streak on Saturday, Jan. 31 with a 68-57 win CCIW-opponent Illinois Wesleyan University (8-12, 2-7 CCIW) at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis.

Wheaton College (Ill., 18-2, 8-1) continues to lead the league, with North Central College (18-2, 7-2 CCIW) in second and Carthage in a tie for third place with Elmhurst College (12-8, 5-4). 

There were six ties and four lead changes in the first half, but Carthage pulled away late to open up a 13-point lead at halftime, 37-24.  The Lady Reds never trailed in the second half, although the Titans pulled to within two points, 52-50, at 6:25.  Carthage went on to win by 11, 68-57.

The Lady Reds shot 51 percent (23-45), including five-of-10 three-pointers, while the Titans shot just 36 percent (21-59), including five-of-19 from three-point range.  Carthage got to free-throw line 23 times and made 17, while Illinois Wesleyan connected on 10-of-20.  Carthage turned the ball over 24 times to just nine for IWU.

Carthage's Morgan Harris (Fr., Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey) came off the bench to lead all scorers with a season-high 17 points on six-of-eight field goals, along with four-of-five free throws, six rebounds and four assists.  Alexis Hahn (Jr., Itasca, Ill./Roselle-Lake Park) had 14 points on five-of-11 shooting, along with a game-high 14 rebounds.  Kasey Kleiner (Sr., South Milwaukee, Wis./Somers-Shoreland Lutheran) scored 13 points, and Taylor Boardman (Jr., Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) added 11 points with 11 boards.  Kasey Reaber led the Titans with 14 points, six rebounds and eight assists, while Molly McGraw had 11 points with six boards.

"We were pleased to be up 13 points at halftime," said Carthage coach Tim Bernero, "but I thought they would play better in the second half.  We lost control of the game, defensively, and they got some momentum.  Once we got things back under control, things were alright.  Morgan Harris doesn't look very imposing, but Illinois Wesleyan overplays everything and drove us out of our regular offense.  All we needed to do was the spread the floor and drive to the basket, and Morgan did a great job of that.  We have a big game at Elmhurst on Wednesday, and we need to play a better game than we did when they were here a few weeks ago.  We just need to stay in the top-four and give ourselves a chance to win the tournament."

Carthage travels to Elmhurst, Ill., on Wednesday, Feb. 4 to take on conference-opponent Elmhurst College (12-8, 5-4 CCIW) in a 7 p.m. game at R.A. Faganel Hall.