WHEATON, Ill. – The Elmhurst women's basketball team had its season come to an end with an 82-50 loss to Wheaton in the CCIW Tournament Semifinals. 

Mikaela Eppard led the Bluejay attack with 23 points and six rebounds, but it was not enough as the Thunder shot 58 percent for the game, including 8-of-10 from downtown and 14-of-19 from the free throw line. 

After Eppard hit the first bucket of the game, Elmhurst struggled offensively in the first quarter, finishing 3-of-9 from the field. Wheaton hit on four consecutive shots in a 9-2 quarter-ending run and led 21-9 at the first break. 

The teams traded buckets in the second quarter as the Thunder held on to a double-digit lead throughout. The closest Elmhurst came was 11 at 25-14 after a Hannah Lipman three-point play. Wheaton came back to score the next five points, extending a 16-point lead and went into the locker room with a 37-18 advantage. 

Eppard scored 10 points in the third quarter to bring her total to 19 for the game, but the Thunder led 62-36 heading into the fourth and cruised to the victory. 

Kaela Jones (nine points), Claire Monroe (six), and five other Bluejays also added offensive contributions for Elmhurst. The Bluejays shot 40 percent from the field, 35 percent from downtown and 6-of-10 from the free throw line. 

Wheaton's Katie McDaniels tied with Eppard for the game-high with 23 points and also added seven assists, while Jennifer Berg and Kelly Lawson both chipped in with 11 points. The Thunder won the turnover battle 18-10 and outrebounded the Bluejays 29-26. 

Elmhurst finishes its season with a 13-13 overall record.