WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Carroll University women's basketball team defeated the Wheaton College Thunder for the first time in Van Male Field House since 1992 on Wednesday night, coming away with a 57-47 victory. Natalie Palzkill and Elizabeth Behrndt led with 10 points each, while Allison Thompson stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks.
 
The Pioneers (13-4, 5-4 CCIW) take a half-game lead over the Thunder in the CCIW standings, as Carroll and North Park sit tied for third place. Carroll finished the night shooting just over 39% from the floor, but held Wheaton to just 37%, and 1-10 from the free-throw line. A third-quarter spurt of 21 points put Carroll out in front by a solid margin, and they held on for the remainder of the contest. Carroll edged out the tall Thunder program in the paint, outscoring them 28-14. The Pioneer bench came back after a tough loss earlier this week, scoring 21 points led by nine from Brooke Foster (2-5 3PM, 3-4 FTM). Carroll forced 23 Wheaton turnovers and picked up 14 steals to go with six blocked shots.
 
Carroll and Wheaton started the first quarter trading baskets, but both teams had turnover issues early on. Behrndt put the Pios up two with 5:11 remaining in the first period, only for Wheaton to start a 5-0 run. Thompson and Foster helped cut into the lead, but the Thunder led by four after one. Wheaton took its largest lead of eight with 7:45 left until halftime. Two Foster free throws and a Katie Evans (6 PTS) three cut it a one-possession game. Evans knocked down another three to tie the game with 3:38 remaining. Wheaton came back to go up three points at halftime with a lead of 26-23.
 
The Pios opened the second half with a 6-0 run to give them a lead, but Wheaton quickly took it back. Back-to-back three-point jumpers from Foster tied the game back, and two Kate Christian (8 PTS) free-throws gave Carroll a lead with 1:14 left in the third period. Palzkill worked the lead up to 44-37 going into the final quarter. The Pios were finding the paint and went up nine points early in the fourth. Chloe Halverson (4 PTS) gave Carroll its first double-digit lead with 2:56 left on a jump shot off a turnover. Carroll played solid defense the final 10 minutes, holding Wheaton to just 10 points and forcing five turnovers.
 
Carroll returns to the hardwood this Saturday, as they look to get avenge their loss to Augustana this Saturday in Rock Island, Illinois.