WAUKESHA, Wis. - Facing the top scoring defense in the CCIW Wednesday night, Carroll's women's basketball team put up 80 points for the fourth time in the last five games, en route to a convincing 80-53 win against intrastate rival Carthage College, which entered the night allowing just 56.7 ppg. That extends the Pioneers' season-long winning streak to seven games, while moving Carroll two and a half games ahead of Carthage in the conference standings, just one game shy of first-place #2 Illinois Wesleyan.

Carroll (13-5, 8-1 CCIW) shot 55 percent )31-56) from the field Wednesday night, including 31 percent (4-13) from 3-point range, while Carthage (14-5, 6-4 CCIW) converted 38 percent (20-53) of their shots and 24 percent (5-21) of their 3-pointers. The Pioneers scored 38 points in the paint, while also turning 20 Carthage turnovers into 22 points.

In a game that Carroll never trailed, they got out to a hot start from the outset, scoring points on each of their first five possessions and getting out to a 14-2 lead mid-way through the opening quarter.The Firebirds then mounted a mini-comeback, but a Natalie Gricius 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Carroll a 12-point advantage after one quarter of play. The two teams played evenly during the second quarter, with Carroll leading by double digits for the remainder of the half before taking a 43-30 lead into halftime.

Carthage cut the lead to single digits with a pair of quick baskets after the break, eventually pulling within seven points of the Pios, but they would extend it back to a double digit advantage, leading by 11 entering the fourth and final quarter. In that final frame, Carthage ran out of steam, as Carroll outscored the Firebirds 20-4 in the period.

Carroll was led by Olivia Rangel's game-high 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, to go along with four rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Gricius added 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, and five rebounds, while Emilie Wizner scored 10 points for the Pios.

Marianna Morrissey led Carthage with 15 points, while Alyssa Orozco was the only other Firebird to score in double figures, recording 11 points off the bench, which included a trio of 3-pointers. Emma Carlson led all players with eight rebounds.

Carroll will try to keep things rolling on Saturday when they'll host Millikin University on what will be Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day. That game will begin at 2 p.m. from Van Male Gymnasium in Waukesha, Wis.