Photo credit: Paige Wilcox

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The North Park University women's basketball team fell to the Wheaton College Thunder, 58-54, inside the North Park Gym on Saturday night.

Wheaton started the scoring in their first possession with a Jacqueline Jule layup and Hannah Frazier 3-pointer. North Park responded with a short jumper from sophomore forward Jayla Johnson and a 3-pointer from senior guard Angelina Villasin.

Staying neck-and-neck through the first quarter, Wheaton held a small lead at 14-11.

The second quarter of play was a near mirror image of the first, as Wheaton outscored the Vikings 14-12. One notable difference was showcased in Wheaton's shooting percentage; the Thunder shot 45.45% (5-11) in the first quarter and just 20% (3-15) in the second quarter.

However, Wheaton shot 6-of-9 from the free-throw line in the second quarter to lead 28-23 going into halftime.

Halftime: Wheaton 28, North Park 23

Junior guard Sinead Molloy opened the second half with a short jumper in the paint, putting the Vikings in a one-possession game. However, Wheaton knocked down a pair of jumpers of their own to grab a seven-point lead.

In the last three minutes of the quarter, Wheaton outscored North Park 10-2, as the Thunder held a 44-33 lead going into the final quarter.

Viking sophomore guards Jacki Rapp and Emily Czuhajewski connected seconds into their first possession, as Rapp buried a 3-pointer to narrow the Thunder lead to single digits. 

Unfortunately, despite outscoring the Thunder 21-14 in the fourth quarter, Wheaton pulled out the win, 58-54.

FINAL: Wheaton 58, North Park 54

Quick Hits
 

• Sophomore center Josie Summerville had a double-double with 10 points and as many rebounds
• Czuhajewski followed with nine points
• Wheaton's Frazier led both teams with 24 points and 11 rebounds

What's Next?

North Park (17-5, 10-3 CCIW) will host Carthage College next Wednesday, February 12, at 7 p.m.