DAYTONA, Fla. – The Elmhurst University women's basketball team topped Thiel College in its final game of the Mauro Panaggio Tournament, 70-53.

The Bluejays held a dominant 20-5 lead at the end of the first quarter and extended their lead to 17 points heading into the locker room at the half.

Both squads scored 33 points in the second half, but the Tomcats were unable to overcome Elmhurst's explosive scoring from the first half.

Taylor Harazin scored a career-high 32 points to go along with 15 rebounds for the Bluejays. Anna Kleszynski chipped in 19 points, while MC Brown dished out a game-high five assists in the win.

Thiel was led by Destiny Johnson who finished with 20 points and seven boards. Destiny Merriwether added in eight points, while Giana Arnese contributed seven points of her own.

The Tomcats shot 31 percent (22-of-71) from the field, compared to the Bluejays 49.2 percent (29-of-59). Theil struggled from the foul line shooting just 26.7 percent (4-of-15), while Elmhurst shot 61.1 percent (11-of-18).

UP NEXT

The Bluejays travel to Cedar Rapids to take on the Kohawks of Coe College on Friday, December 30 at 1:00 p.m.

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