WAUKESHA, Wis. - Freshman guard Sierra Grubor (Milwaukee, Wis.) scored 11 of her game-high 20 points in the second half but it wasn't enough as the Carroll University women's basketball team lost to fierce, in-state rival Carthage College 65-59 in a hard-fought College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin game at Van Male Field House on Wednesday night.
It was the third consecutive conference loss for Carroll, which dropped to 4-11 in the league standings and 9-15 overall.
The top four spots in the upcoming six-team CCIW Tournament have been clinched by Wheaton, which remains in sole possession of first place (14-1), Illinois Wesleyan (13-2), Carthage (10-5) and Augustana (7-8).
Heading into the regular-season finale this weekend with the final two spots remaining, Elmhurst (5-10), North Park (5-10), North Central (5-10), Millikin (4-10) and Carroll (4-11) round out the conference standings.
The Pioneers led 36-32 at halftime but struggled to maintain the momentum and were outscored 33-23 over the course of the final 20 minutes - including what proved to be a decisive 19-5 margin in the game-changing third quarter.
Freshman forward Amanda Hooks (Mequon, Wis.) contributed a season-high 13 points with three baskets from 3-point range for the Pioneers, who converted five 3-pointers, 10 of 15 free throws and shot 39.3 percent from field-goal range. Freshman center Celina Schwantes (Pewaukee, Wis.) registered a double-double by finishing with 11 points, 11 rebounds and two assists.
The determined Pioneers trimmed the deficit to 58-54 on back-to-back free throws by Schwantes with 2:55 left but couldn't get any closer.
Sophomore point guard Emily Majerus (Plymouth, Wis.) followed with seven points, a team-best six assists, four rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot for Carroll, which was competing with a short-handed seven-player roster. Freshman forward Kayla Stefka (Johnsburg, Ill.) had five points and five rebounds.
Sophomore center Katie Rossetti (Wauconda, Ill.) delivered a warrior-type effort by battling through illness to add three points, nine rebounds, three blocked shots and a steal.
Despite the final outcome, Carroll third-year head coach Lindsay Schultz was proud of how her inspired, hard-working team competed throughout the course of the grueling battle.
"We've battled through so much adversity over the course of this season but have shown our true character in the way we've continued to fight each time," said Schultz, of her young team's mental toughness, maturity and steady growth. "Tonight, we played a good first half, had a four-point lead and it began to slip away in the third quarter. That's when we seemed to lose some of our focus and Carthage countered by making the necessary adjustments to take control. When that happened, we could've easily packed it in but refused to give in and came roaring back down the stretch (referring to outscoring Carthage 18-14 in the fourth quarter). 
"Looking back on the past 10 games, there isn't a game that I'm more proud of than this one. Even though it ended in a loss, it was a big victory for our program. It truly showed what we are capable of doing against a very good team and demonstrated our ability to comeback in a big-game pressure situation."
Junior guard Autumn Kalis finished with a team-high 17 points with five 3-pointers, six rebounds and six assists for high-powered third-place Carthage, which improved to 10-5 in conference and 16-8 overall. Senior forward Rachel Szydlowski collected 14 points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal for the Lady Red, who made seven 3-pointers, 14 of 16 free throws and shot 36.7 percent from the field.
Junior forward Maggie Berigan had 12 points and junior guard Madie Kaelber added 10 points for Carthage, which outrebounded the Pioneers 37-36.

PIONEER FAST FACTS
What: The Carroll University women's basketball team lost to in-state rival Carthage College 65-59 in a College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin game at Van Male Field House on Wednesday night.
Records: 4-11 in CCIW and 9-15 overall
Scoring Leaders: Sierra Grubor (20 points), Amanda Hooks (13 points), Celina Schwantes (11 points), Emily Majerus (7 points), Kayla Stefka (5 points), Katie Rossetti (3 points)
Rebound Leaders: Schwantes (11), Rossetti (9), Stefka (5), Majerus (4), Grubor (3)
Notable: The Pioneers led 36-32 at halftime but struggled to maintain the momentum and were outscored 33-23 over the course of the final 20 minutes - including what proved to be a decisive 19-5 margin in the game-changing third quarter.