Waukesha, Wis. – The Carroll University Pioneers women's basketball team led and controlled the tempo the entire contest against Carthage College on Wednesday night, winning 91-55. The women drained 16 three point baskets on 52% shooting behind the arc, a new school record for most in a single game by a team. "I think this was the most complete game that we've had" quote head coach
Lindsay Schultz after the win. Sophomore
Theresa Wichser dropped 17 points, the sixth time this season she's had 15+ points in a game.
Kate Christian provided a spark off the bench with 12 points, and six assists, while three Pios shared a team high four rebounds.
"I think this was a really big win for us and I hope that it's going to trigger our work ethic in practice" exclaimed Wichser, who shot 5-9 from three point range tonight. The women dominated the Lady Reds in nearly every statistical category, including points off turnovers, bench points, and points in the paint. Carthage was pick pocketed seven times by the Pioneers (including two from
Katie Evans), and turned the ball over 23 times to Carroll's 12. Foul trouble was a huge part for this contest, with
Sierra Grubor, and
Elizabeth Behrndt nearly fouling out. Carthage got into foul trouble of their own, but the women made 17-18 free throws (94.4% FTM), with six coming from Christian in her first game back from injury.
The Pioneers (now 7-11, 3-7 CCIW) took control right away with a
Megan Madsen layup. The Pios held Carthage scoreless for the first five minutes of the event, and continued to execute a 19-5 run, capped off by a three pointer from Grubor (10 pts, 4 reb). Two more threes from Grubor and Wichser within the first three minutes brought the Pio's lead to 19. A 8-0 run shortly after affected the lead, but Haley Herriges (3pts) and
Alyssa Cruz (14 pts, 5 ast) drained threes of their own to keep their lead intact. Wichser poured in two more buckets before the half expired.
Starting the second half with a 20 point lead, the fouling began. 12 points in the third quarter came all from the charity stripe, including 5 of Christian's 6. With both teams going back and forth, the Pios managed to add four more to their scoring margin. The Pios weren't done, draining 4-5 threes within the first 2:45 of the final quarter to bring the lead to 33 points. Coach Schultz decided to go to her bench in the final quarter to get all the Pioneer women some game time action. "It really shows our depth…we have multiple shooters not just one shooter" explained Schultz on her team breaking the school record once again and her trust in her bench.
The women look to keep their hot hand against another sharp shooting Illinois Wesleyan team this Saturday in Bloomington, Ill. The women fell in the last matchup, 69-83.
Alyssa Cruz led the way with 13 points and six assists in that loss. Stay up to date on Carroll women's basketball this season by going online to www.gopios.com, or by following the Pioneers on Facebook (Carroll University Athletics), Twitter (@pio_athletics), and Instagram (@pio_athletics).
