APPLETON, Wis. -- The Carroll College women's basketball team built a double-digit lead late in the first half and went on to a 54-43 Midwest Conference victory over Lawrence University at Alexander Gymnasium.
Caresse Reiland led Lawrence (4-13, 1-9 MWC) with 12 points and eight rebounds. Crystal Hoewisch led Carroll (14-3, 8-2) and all scorers with 19 points and was one of three Pioneers in double figures.
The Vikings trailed by only seven points after a pair of Carrie Van Groll free throws with 4:39 left in the first half, but the Pioneers went on 9-3 run to close the first half. Lyndsey Seewald started the outburst with a 3-pointer and Hoewisch added a pair of layups to key the Pioneers.
The Pioneers then opened the second half with six consecutive points by Kim Wickert, who finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, to build a 38-19 lead. The Pioneers would later match that 19-point advantage as their biggest of the game.
Lawrence trimmed the 19-point lead to 11 with consecutive baskets by Reiland, Jenny Stoner, Sarah Ehlinger, and Margaret Rhatican. Rhatican's fastbreak layup trimmed the lead to 46-35 with 3:57 left, but the Vikings could get no closer than 11 points.
Lawrence returns to action on Feb. 8 when it hosts Monmouth College.