WAUKESHA, WIS.—The Carthage College women's basketball team's first road bout of 2018 pitted them against Carroll University (Wis.) at the Van Male Gymnasium on Wednesday evening. The Pioneers, who registered a 1-23 campaign in their return to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin in 2016-17, brought five victories into their meeting with the Lady Reds. That number didn't expand as Sammie Woodward's career-high 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the three-point line propelled Carthage to a 66-53 victory over Carroll University.

The 66-53 win over Carroll at the Van Male Fieldhouse also gives head coach Tim Bernero 250 career wins. Bernero's first career victory also occurred at the Van Male Fieldhouse, a 47-34 decision over the Pioneers on November 21, 2003. 
 
Woodward drained six of her three balls in the opening half, which already tied her previous career-high of 18 points achieved in a 67-49 victory over UW-Stevens Point on November 29. Woodward, who didn't miss a shot until the 3:31 mark of the third quarter, was one three-pointer shy of tying the Lady Reds single-game three-pointer mark achieved on two occasions.
 
Carthage finished the contest with a season-high .542 (13-of-24) three-point field goal percentage. Autumn Kalis contributed 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting from the three-point line.
 
The Lady Reds improve to 9-5, 2-3 CCIW while Carroll (Wis.) falls to 5-9, 2-3 CCIW.
 
Lady Reds 66, Carroll (Wis.) 53
 
The Pioneers exploited Carthage's .286 (4-of-14) mark from the field in the first quarter with a 10-3 lead with 5:19 left. The Lady Reds responded with a 12-6 run to close the opening frame thanks to Woodward's first two three-pointers of the game, which narrowed Carroll's lead to 16-15.
 
Woodward proceeded to drain four more three-pointers over the first 4:30 of the second quarter to give Carthage the lead for good at 29-23 with 5:36 left. The Lady Reds followed that with a 16-3 run en route to a 45-26 halftime lead. Carthage closed the opening 20:00 with 11 team three-pointers.
 
The Lady Reds only managed a three-pointer in each the third and fourth quarters, but so did Carroll (Wis.). The Pioneers won the second-half battle 27-21, but their first-half hole was too deep as the Lady Reds secured a 66-53 victory.
 
Carthage will host Elmhurst College on Saturday, January 13 at 5:00 p.m.