WHEATON, Ill. – The Carroll University women's basketball team fell to the No. 18 ranked Wheaton Thunder on Wednesday night down in King Arena on Wheaton College's campus. The Pioneers fell 50-62, after shooting 32.8% from the floor. Olivia Rangel led the Pioneers with a season-high 14 points over 32 minutes. Katie Rohner and Allison Thompson each pulled in five rebounds to lead the team.
 
The Pioneers (5-2, 0-2 CCIW) drop their second straight to a CCIW opponent. Carroll's 32.8% shooting is the first time this season it's been below 40%. Carroll shot just 3-14 behind the arc and made 9-15 free throws. Carroll's bench finished with 23 points, led by Rangel's 14, and followed up by Thompson's five. Carroll grabbed nine steals from 14 Wheaton turnovers, but only created two points from those opportunities.
 
The Pioneers started quickly with an 8-0 run through the first 2:16 of the game, but Wheaton stormed back with an 18-5 the remainder of the first quarter. Rohner finished with six points on 2-4 shooting at the end of the first. Wheaton took a 13-point lead with 7:55 remaining forcing a timeout by coach Schultz. Rohner's three-point play from a shooting foul cut the lead to 28-20 with 4:47 remaining. A three-pointer just before halftime for the Thunder gave them an 11-point lead.
 
Natalie Palzkill (10 PTS) scored on a layup in the paint and drew a foul for the and-one to cut the damage to 10 points in the third. With 3:10 remaining, Wheaton took hold of a 4-0 run to take a 14-point lead, that was stopped soon after by Rangel's third basket of the night. Despite five quick points from Rangel, the Thunder soon worked their lead to a game-high 18 points with 4:25 remaining. The Pioneers came back to just 12 down, but with only eight ticks remaining on the clock.
 
Carroll returns to Van Male Field House this Saturday, December 11 for a battle with Millikin.