Wheaton, Ill. – The Thunder women's basketball team got off to a hot start and never looked back on Saturday night in a 71-48 victory over Elmhurst. With the win, Wheaton improves to 11-5 overall and 4-3 in the CCIW, while dropping the Bluejays to 6-10 overall and 1-6 in conference play. Wheaton will look to carry the momentum from the win into their next game, with a trip to conference-leading Illinois Wesleyan on Wednesday, January 22, for a 7 pm tip-off.

The Thunder shot 40.3% (25-62) from the field including a 41.2% (7-17) mark from the three-point line and a 14-22 (63.6%) showing at the free throw line. Elmhurst was held to 30.3% (18-59) from the field and 27.3% (3-11) from beyond the arc. Wheaton tallied 13 blocks on the night, it's highest to date in conference action. The Thunder turned the ball over a season-low seven times with no player turning the ball over more than once.
 
Wheaton scored the game's first nine points in just two and a half minutes, and pushed the lead to double figures on a three-pointer by Kristi Demski to put the Thunder ahead 19-8. Wheaton closed the first quarter hitting four-of-five three-point attempts and building a 24-13 advantage. An eight-point run to start the second quarter put Wheaton on the verge of pushing the lead over 20 points, but the Bluejays answered with a 9-3 run to pull back to within 15 points. A late lay-up by Jill Berg pushed Wheaton's halftime lead to 41-24.
 
The Bluejays pulled back to within 15 on a pair of occasions early in the third quarter but could get no closer as the Thunder finally pushed the lead to 20 on a Kirsten Madsen three-pointer en route to a 61-40 lead at the end of the third quarter and a 71-48 final margin.
 
Hannah Williams led all players with 14 point points to go with five rebounds and was joined in double figures by Hannah Frazier with 12 points and nine rebounds to go with five blocks. Jill Berg finished with eight points, eight rebounds, and five blocks, and Kirsti Demski and Kirsten Madsen each finished nine points. Kelly Weyhrich led Elmhurst with 12 points.