MOUNT VERNON, IOWA—Tournament play was kind to the Carthage College women's basketball team last season as they tallied a 4-0 record in those contests. The Lady Reds reached the half-way point in matching that feat on Saturday as they capitalized on a 68-56 victory over Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa.
 
Carthage saw a 27-4 cushion after the first quarter shrink into a single-digit, 59-51 lead at the 3:23 mark of the fourth quarter. A layup and an and-one from Monica Masini down the stretch helped the Lady Reds regain that advantage en route to a 12-point win. Madie Kaelber duplicated her performance from that last night with 17 points along with three steals while Bailey Gilbert's 15 points occurred on her five made three-pointers. Rachel Szydlowski led the troops with eight boards and two blocks.
 
The victory gives Carthage their second 2-0, 0-0 CCIW start within the past six seasons. Cornell College drops to 0-2, 0-0 MWC.
 
Lady Reds 68, Cornell College 56
 
Seven Lady Reds found the scoring column in their 27-4 first-quarter drubbing of the Rams. Gilbert highlighted Carthage's offense with a trio of three-pointers within the opening frame. The Carthage defense answered the bell with five second-quarter steals, which limited the Rams offense to just seven points in the frame. Harris and Kaelber led the charge with two steals a piece in the quarter to maintain a 37-11 halftime lead.
 
The Lady Reds notched their largest lead of the game at 45-15 off Maggie Berigan's layup at the 6:51 mark of the third quarter. Carthage was the victim of six fouls throughout the final 7:00 of the third frame, which didn't hurt Cornell in their 27-12 run that shrunk their deficit to 57-42 heading into the last 10:00 of play.
 
Haley Grana's two three-pointers generated a 14-11 fourth-quarter run for Cornell, but Carthage's first quarter success was enough to secure them a 68-56 win.
 
The Lady Reds will return to Iowa on Tuesday, November 21 at Coe College. Game time from Cedar Rapids, Iowa is set for 3:00 p.m.