Waukesha, Wis. – The Carroll University Pioneers women's basketball team was outlasted by the Wheaton Thunder tonight by a score of 54-71. Kayla Stefka led the team once more with 14 points on 8-10 free throw shooting, Alyssa Cruz added a team high six rebounds and three assists to go along with 10 points. Sierra Grubor returned from injury and finished with four points and three rebounds.
 
The Pioneers were riding high after a 18-4 run closed out the second quarter, taking a three point lead into halftime. The Thunder responded after halftime and took off with the contest. Besides the hot second quarter, the women shot under 40% each quarter, and hitting only two of 12 three pointers all night. The bench carried the team with 33 points to Wheaton's 18, but Wheaton's size got the best of them, losing the rebounding game. Turnovers gave Wheaton 21 additional points to the Pio's nine.
 
Wheaton quickly took advantage in the game and started off on an 8-2 run, before Cruz was able to draw a foul and sink two from the charity stripe. Wheaton's hot 52% shooting from the floor was the catalyst in the first quarter. The Pioneers got on the board first in the second quarter off a Grubor jumper, after both teams shot blanks for three minutes. Brooke Foster's layup with 5:59 remaining would be the start of the long Carroll run, highlighted by layups from Stefka and Katie Evans, free throws from Kate Christian, and a three from Emily Majerus.
 
The Thunder quickly responded with a three pointer just :12 seconds into the second half to tie the game, and scored five more unanswered. A 14-4 run to follow shocked the Pios, who struggled to hit shots. By the end of the third, the Thunder were up 18. A three point play from Stefka kicked off the fourth, but momentum wouldn't swing. The Thunder did not let the lead drop below 15 points in the final 10 minutes.
 
The women will play their final game of the season this Saturday against Millikin. The last time the women saw the Big Blue, the Pios marched into Decatur and came out with a win, 62-59. Theresa Wichser scored a team high 18 points, and the Pioneers kicked off the game with a 24-6 first quarter. 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).