ELMHURST, Ill. - Katie Swanson tied her season-high with 16 points to propel the Elmhurst women's basketball team to a 64-58 win over Carthage College. 
 

The Bluejay offense started and finished with Swanson. The Elmhurst guard scored the game's first seven points and knocked down four key free throws in the final minute to clinch the victory. 
 

After Swanson's early scoring burst, Carthage used an 18-4 run to take their own seven-point advantage. The run culminated with a Taylor Boardman three-point play, which made the score 18-11. The Bluejays pulled even with buckets on three consecutive possessions, including a Claire Monroe three-point shot to tie the game at 18. From there the teams traded baskets and the Bluejays headed to the locker room with a one-point advantage. 

In the second half, no team led by more than five until the 4:10 mark when Elmhurst used a 7-0 run to take an 11-point lead. With under a minute to play and the Bluejays still holding an 11-point lead, the Lady Reds started their comeback. Carthage cut the lead to nine on a Morgan Harris layup. Then, after a pair of missed free throws from Elmhurst, Kasey Kleiner hit a three-pointer and stole the ensuing inbound pass, which led to a Morgan Harris three-point shot. The 20-second, 8-0 run pulled the Lady Reds to within three points. 

Harris then quickly fouled Swanson, who nailed both of her free throws to put Elmhurst out in front 60-55. With eight seconds left, Carthage's Kleiner drained another three-pointer to pull the Lady Reds within two. Swanson again hit two key free throws to give the Bluejays a two-possession advantage and the victory.
 

Fiona McMahon was the only other Bluejay to reach double figures, finishing with 13 points. Three Bluejays, Monroe, Mikaela Eppard, and Hannah Lipman all reached nine points. Eppard added nine rebounds, while Lipman grabbed seven boards and also had four assists. As a team, Elmhurst had a 16-9 advantage in points off turnovers. 

Four of Carthage's starters scored double-digit points. Boardman and Kleiner reached 12, while Alexis Hahn (double-double with 13 rebounds) and Erin Thomas each chipped in with 10. Carthage (44 percent) out shot Elmhurst (38 percent) from the field. 

With the win, Elmhurst (13-8, 6-4 CCIW) moves into third place in the CCIW standings, while Carthage (12-9, 5-5 CCIW) sits in fourth.

Elmhurst travels to Wheaton College on Saturday, February 7 with tip-off scheduled for 5:00 p.m.