CHICAGO, Ill. -
Rachel Van Sluys scored 15 of her individual season-high 22 points in the first half as the Carroll University women's basketball team defeated Illinois Institute of Technology 86-39 in a nonconference game at Keating Sports Center on Tuesday night.
It was the second consecutive victory for Carroll, which generated a season-high point total en route to improving to 3-6 overall.
The dominant four-quarter performance demonstrated the team's steady progress and took on added significance as it was the most points produced by Carroll since Jan. 4, 2017 (in a 117-86 regular-season loss to high-powered North Central College in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin showdown).
It was the program's first string of back-to-back victories since the conclusion of the 2015-16 regular season.
The Pioneers outscored Illinois Tech 46-20 in the first half, including what proved to be a decisive 22-9 run in the opening quarter.
Van Sluys, a 5-foot-7 junior guard/forward from Sheboygan, Wis., also made 3 of 4 free throws, converted a basket from 3-point range and grabbed eight rebounds in playing 15 minutes to lead a balanced offensive attack.
Carroll showcased its talent, depth and athleticism with 10 players reaching the scoring column - including four in double figures.
Senior guard
Brittney Wald (Antigo, Wis.) had 16 points with two 3-pointers, a team-high 10 rebounds and two assists to register a double-double for the Pioneers, who made 17 of 23 free throws and seven 3-pointers.
Freshman point guard
Mallory Olszak (Crete, Ill.) followed with 10 points and five assists for Carroll, which outrebounded Illinois Tech 55-35 in the contest - maintaining a key 23-12 advantage on the offensive glass.
Freshman guard
Anna Menges (Manitowoc, Wis.) chipped in 10 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Pioneers, who shot 40.3 percent from field-goal range and forced 21 turnovers. Junior guard
Sara Hartl (Racine, Wis.) had eight points, five assists and four rebounds.
Sophomore guard/forward
Hannah Kloehn (Marshfield, Wis.) and freshman forward
Katie Rossetti (Wauconda, Ill.) each collected five points and five rebounds for Carroll, which had 18 fast-break points, 40 points in the paint and displayed its unselfishness with 20 assists. Freshman guard/forward
Hailey Herriges (Kewaskum, Wis.) added five points.
Freshman guard Shannon O' Donnell had a team-high 13 points and five assists for Illinois Tech, which dropped to 0-7 overall.
