Naperville, Ill. – The Wheaton women's basketball team earned a 106-67 victory against North Central College (7-6/0-2) on Saturday night in CCIW action. The 106 points scored by the Thunder is the second-highest point total in a game in the program's history, just six points shy of the school-record mark of 112 points against Concordia (Ill.) in 1995-96. Tonight's outing marked only the third time the Thunder women's basketball program has ever surpassed 100 points. Wheaton is now 11-1 on the year, with a 2-0 record in CCIW play.
Brooke Olson led the Thunder by tying her career-high with 26 points and six assists. Freshman Hannah Considine also tied her career-high by scoring 14 points on 7-for-10 shooting from the field and she added six rebounds. Freshman Moriah Reeves scored 12 points and Breanna Bohlen added 10 points. Junior Maria Panaggio scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to register her first career "double-double" in points and rebounds. Jenn Lee scored nine points with six assists.
The Thunder tied the school record for field goals in a game with 44 as Wheaton shot 54.3% (44-81) from the floor, with 38.5% (5-13) from behind the three-point arc and 61.9% (13-21) at the free throw line. The Cardinals shot 19.6% (18-92) from the field, with 17% (9-53) from three-point range and 75.9% (22-29) at the charity stripe. Wheaton out-rebounded the hosts 62-56; however, the Cardinals owned a 28-15 edge on the offensive glass. Wheaton out-scored the Cardinals 54-18 in the pain and held a 59-5 edge in fast-break points.
Larynn Shumaker led North Central with 18 points and seven rebounds. Sophie Newson scored 16 points, with a team-high nine rebounds and four steals for the hosts.
The Thunder never trailed in tonight's game as Jenn Lee drained a three-pointer in the opening minute and was fouled on the play to earn and convert a four-point play. Wheaton led 10-7 with 16:22 remaining in the first half when the Thunder responded with 10 unanswered points to extend its lead to 18-7 with 12:30 left in the opening half. Wheaton maintained a 10-point lead at 28-18 with 9:30 left in the first half, but the Thunder closed the opening half with a 26-10 scoring advantage to give the "Orange and Blue" a 54-28 lead at halftime. Wheaton's largest lead of the game was a 50-point bulge when Wheaton led 100-50 thanks to a traditional three-point play by Makayla Seibold.