BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Carroll's women's basketball team returned to the scene of their first-ever CCIW Tournament Championship Friday afternoon, as the Pios began their quest for a repeat with a convincing 89-54 victory against Wheaton (Ill.) in the semifinals of the 2025 CCIW Tournament at Shirk Center in Bloomington, Ill. Carroll led for all but four minutes in the game, scorching the nets to the tune of 57 percent (34-60) from the field and 50 percent (8-16) from 3-point range. That advances the Pioneers to Saturday night's CCIW Championship Game at 7 p.m. against Illinois Wesleyan, which is ranked third in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll.

Carroll (18-8) outscored Wheaton (15-12) in the paint by a 40-22 margin, while turning 20 Wheaton turnovers into 25 points. The Pios also scored 14 fast-break points on the night, while holding Wheaton to just 36 percent (20-56) shooting, including 24 percent (6-25) from behind the arc.

The Pioneers scored the first four points of the contest, before getting out to a 20-13 lead on a tip-in by 2025 CCIW Player of the Year Olivia Rangel. Carroll took a four-point advantage into the second period, but Wheaton scored the first six points of that quarter on back-to-back 3-pointers to take their first lead of the night. Rangel answered with a step-back jumper to tie the score at 22 and after Wheaton took a 26-22 lead with seven minutes left in the half, Carroll stepped on the gas, scoring the next 16 points to take a 12-point lead with two and a half minutes remaining before intermission.

After taking a 40-30 lead into halftime, Carroll would lead by double-digits for the rest of the night. They outscored the Thunder 27-14 in the third quarter to take total control of the game. Carroll would take their largest lead of 37 points on a Kailey Wozniak layup with two minutes remaining.

Rangel led all scorers with 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting, while adding eight assists and one steal, which gives her 78 on the season, tying Carroll's single season record, which was set in the 2008-09 season (Janelle Groer). Natalie Gricius added 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting, to go along with six boards, while Emilie Wizner scored 14 points in 19 minutes. Chloe Halverson narrowly missed a double-double with a 10 point, nine rebound performance, while Bloomington native Katie Barger tied a career-high with 10 points, all of which came before halftime.

Wheaton was led by Annika Richardson's 14 points, while Kate Oliver added 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Alexis Martin added seven points for the Thunder.

Carroll will now play top-seeded Illinois Wesleyan in Saturday's CCIW Tournament Championship game at 7 p.m. from the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Ill., with an automatic berth to the 2025 NCAA Division-III Tournament on the line.