WHEATON, Ill. - After seeing their eight-game winning streak end in their previous game, the Carroll University women's basketball team began a new streak Saturday night, defeating Wheaton (IL) College by a score of 71-63. The Pioneers scored nearly half their points (32) in the paint, while receiving a huge scoring boost from their bench, which outscored Wheaton's reserves by a 26-5 margin.

Wheaton (11-10, 6-6 CCIW) came out hot to start the game, sinking back-to-back 3-pointers to take early control of the contest, in which the Thunder didn't trail for the entirety of the first half. An Emilie Wizner 3-pointer pulled the Pios (15-6, 10-2 CCIW) within one in the opening minutes of the first quarter, but Wheaton answered with a 3-pointer of their own. A Julia Lokker 3-pointer would cut the lead to a single point again later in the period, which saw Wheaton take an 18-14 lead into the second frame. Wheaton would push that lead to 11 midway through that quarter, but Carroll battled back to tie the game at 36 on an Olivia Rangel layup in the final minute, which capped a 17-6 run in less than a five-minute span. Wheaton would score the final four points of the half to take a 40-36 lead into intermission.

After halftime, the Pio defense locked in, outscoring the Thunder 20-9 in the third quarter. Carroll would take their first lead of the night on a layup by Rangel in the opening minute of the half. That would be the first of seven lead changes in the quarter, as the teams traded baskets several possessions in a row. The Pioneers finally took control of the contest late in the third, which saw them end with an 11-2 run to take a seven-point lead into the final quarter. Wheaton would pull within two points in the final frame, but Carroll was able to hold off their comeback, ending the game on a 9-3 run.

Carroll finished the game shooting 44 percent (26-59) from the field, 42 percent (8-19) from 3-point range, and 79 percent (11-14) form the free throw line. Natalie Gricius led the way with team-highs of 20 points and eight rebounds, while also sinking four 3-pointers. Rangel added 16 points, three rebounds, six assists, and eight steals. The senior from Franklin, Wis. is now eight assists from breaking Carroll's career record (377), while also needing just four more steals to shatter that school record (260), which have both stood for 39 years.

Annika Richardson led Wheaton with a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Kate Oliver chipped in with 20 points and eight boards. The Thunder shot 40 percent (23-58) from the field, including 26 percent (6-23) from 3-point range.

The Pioneers will try to build on this win as the regular season winds down. They will be in action again Wednesday night when they'll host North Central (IL) at 7 p.m. from Van Male Gymnasium in Waukesha, Wis.