ELMHURST, Ill. – The Carthage College Lady Reds put together one of the most complete shooting performances of the season to closeout a tough three game road swing on a positive note, defeating Elmhurst College 80-69 Wednesday at R.A. Faganel Hall.
The Lady Reds (6-9, 2-2 CCIW) went 24-48 from the field, 11-16 from three and 21-24 from the free throw stripe against Elmhurst (8-7, 2-2 CCIW) in Carthage's highest scoring game of the season. The 50-percent from the field and 87.5-percent from the stripe were both season highs for the Lady Reds, while the 68.8-percent from three was the second best on the year.
"It was nice for us to get a win and to play with the type of energy we did," said head coach Tim Bernero. "After the initial blow handed down by Elmhurst in the first quarter, I think we defended them better than we have been defending teams as of late. They still shot a high percentage because they are a high quality offensive team and it was hard to get them under control. But we adjusted out lineup a little bit, trying to put us in position to spread the floor and attack. We shot the ball really well and made free throws and when that happens things tend to go your way a little more."
Morgan Harris led all scorers in Wednesday's game with 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting, 3-of-3 on threes, and 5-of-5 from the free throw line. Bailey Gilbert and Mandy Hozzian added 19 and 13 respectively, as Gilbert went 5-of-7 and Hozzian went 3-of-5 from three. Erin Thomas rounded out the Lady Reds in double-figures with ten points, going 6-of-8 from the free throw stripe.
Trailing 6-0 early, Rachel Szydlowski got the Lady Reds on the board with an offensive put back 2:42 into the game. Elmhurst was able to push the lead to as many as nine, which the Bluejays were able to hold until Carthage began to make a comebackin the final three minute of the opening stanza. Carthage finished the opening quarter on a 10-2 run with five points coming from Monica Masini on a jumper in the paint and three free throws as she was fouled on the desperation three at the buzzer.
After Mandy Hozzian gave Carthage their first lead of the game with a pair of free throws to open the quarter, 19-18, Elmhurst quickly regained the lead by four at 25-21. Carthage began an assault of three-point field goals with 6:22 remaining in the half, as Bailey Gilbert hit two, Morgan Harris hit one and Hozzian connected on her third of the half. Elmhurst once again tied the game at 36 apiece but four points in the paint to close the half byMorgan Vukovich and Erin Thomas gave the Lady Reds a 40-36 lead at the break.
Hozzian led all Carthage scorers at the half with 11 points, going three-for-three from distance and two-for-two at the line.
"Going with a little different lineup today and putting Mandy out there, forced Elmhurst to play a little different today," said Bernero. "She got off to a great start hitting a few three's. Getting to the free throw line for a couple attempts always helps! Bailey was shooting the ball like we know she can and I think we got her the ball at the right time. She hit a couple in the first half and two big ones in the second half to really stretch the lead out to double figures for us. Harris was good. She was driving to the basket and making good decisions. She made some tough shots at the rim and her free throws down the stretch. Erin Thomas also came up big making her free throws down the stretch! Erin did a great job guarding Claire Monroe, who we didn't want getting started from the three."
Carthage continued to have the hot shooting hand from deep to begin the third quarter as Gilbert and Harris combined to hit the first three three-pointes of the half to give the Lady Reds their largest lead of the game, 15, at 53-38, behind a 13-2 run to open the half. Elmhurst managed to cut their deficit to seven by the end of the quarter with a late 8-0 run.
Carthage and Elmhurst traded baskets to start the fourth and after the Bluejays were able to cut the lead back to single-digits, Morgan Harris drove to the basket and hit a runner high off the backboard, drawing the foul, and converting on a three-point play to push the Carthage lead back to 11. Elmhurst would manage to cut the lead once again below ten, but free throws down the stretch by Thomas secured the win for the Lady Reds.
For the Bluejays, Mikaela Eppard led Elmhurst with 20 points followed by Erika Johnson with 13 and Courtney Spencer with 10.
The Lady Reds return home to Kenosha, Saturday, January 16th for the first game of a doubleheader at Tarble Arena, as the Lady Reds host Augustana College at 5:00 p.m. followed by the Red Men at 7:00 p.m. against the Vikings.