KENOSHA, WIS.—With playoff positioning on the line, the Carthage College women's basketball team had the opportunity to knock off a squad ahead of them in #13 Illinois Wesleyan University at Tarble Arena on Saturday. A career-high 25 points from
Bailey Gilbert wasn't enough to propel the Lady Reds as they settled for an 85-73 loss to the Titans.
The Lady Reds saved their best for last as they outscored the Titans 22-13 in the fourth quarter.
"I'm really proud of our effort in the fourth quarter as we handled their press, but it was things in the first half they did that was enough to hurt us in the end," said Lady Reds head basketball coach
Tim Bernero.
The Lady Reds shot an impressive 28-65 (.431) from the field and a 7-23 (.304) mark from beyond the arch. Gilbert's career night included four three-pointers made along with six rebounds.
Madie Kaelber came back with a 13-point night on 6-14 shooting while
Autumn Kalis rounded out the Lady Reds in double figures with 12 points.
Foul trouble plagued the Lady Reds as
Rachel Szydlowski and Kalis each fouled out.
The Lady Reds fall to 14-7, 8-4 CCIW while #13 Illinois Wesleyan comes through with a 17-4, 10-2 CCIW mark.
Illinois Wesleyan 85, Lady Reds 73
The Lady Reds grabbed their first lead of the game with 5:53 left in the first when Gilbert tallied a layup to make the score 11-9. A Gilbert three-pointer, and Szydlowski layup gave Carthage their largest lead of the game at 16-9 with 3:34 left in the first. It was enough arsenal for the Titans in their 10-2 run to close the frame en route to a 19-18 lead.
Eight points from Gilbert in the second quarter powered the Lady Reds, but it didn't result in a lead as Illinois Wesleyan went to the locker room with a 39-32 advantage. The third quarter didn't make things better for Carthage as the Titans' 33 points in the frame gave them a 21-point 72-51 lead after the frame.
The Lady Reds outscored Illinois Wesleyan 22-13 in the fourth, but it was too late in an 85-73 loss.
Carthage will host North Central College on Wednesday, February 6 at 7:00 p.m.