WHEATON, Ill. - Junior guard Brittney Wald (Antigo, Wis.) scored 11 of her team-high 13 points in the second half as the Carroll University women's basketball team lost to No. 23-ranked Wheaton College 73-43 in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin game at King Arena on Wednesday.
Freshman guard Caylee Koker (Kenosha, Wis.) contributed 10 points and four rebounds for Carroll, which dropped to 1-4 in conference and 1-12 overall.
Junior forward Morgan Lund (Mondovi, Wis.) followed with eight points and a team-best six rebounds for the Pioneers, who were outscored 37-24 in the first half - including what became a decisive 23-8 run in the opening quarter.
Sophomore guards Sara Hartl (Racine, Wis.) and Meredith Polzin (Pewaukee, Wis.) each had six points for Carroll, which converted six baskets from 3-point range, made 9 of 17 free throws and shot 28 percent from field-goal range.
The Pioneers scored five unanswered points in the opening minute, sparked on a 3-pointer by Polzin and a jumper by Lund, but couldn't maintain the momentum.
Senior guard Chantal Meacham scored a game-high 20 points for defending league co-champion Wheaton, which improved to 4-1 in conference (to remain tied for first place in the standings with Augustana and Illinois Wesleyan) and 10-3 overall. Senior guard Katie McDaniels added 15 points for the Thunder, who made seven 3-pointers, 10 of 20 free throws and shot 40.6 percent from the field.
Wheaton, which forced 24 turnovers, outrebounded the Pioneers 48-30 - highlighted by a key 17-3 margin on the offensive glass.