MOUNT VERNON – First-place Cornell turned up the defensive intensity, outscoring Beloit by 22 points in the second half for a 71-51 Midwest Conference women's basketball victory Saturday afternoon inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
The Rams (5-4 overall) reeled off their fourth consecutive win and remained atop the MWC standings at 4-0. Cornell beat Beloit (4-6 overall, 1-3 MWC) for the 16th time in the last 17 series meetings.
 
Trailing 31-29 at halftime, the Rams took control with a 26-11 surge in the third quarter. Beloit missed its first eight shot attempts of the second half and Cornell charged ahead with 12 unanswered points.
 
Ani'ja Simmons capped the game-breaking run with a pair of free throws. The junior forward registered her second career double-double with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Simmons enjoyed a perfect shooting game, going 2-for-2 from the field and 8-for-8 from the foul line.
 
Cornell center Madison Wauters led all scorers with 16 points despite being saddled with foul trouble throughout. Megan Gandrup sank four 3-pointers and finished with 12 points.
 
Kali March was the fourth Ram scorer to reach double figures with 10 points, while adding six assists and five steals. Madison Osborn was also stellar all-around with nine points, seven rebounds and five assists.
 
Cornell, No. 1 in the MWC in scoring defense, yielded only six made field goals by the Buccaneers in the second half. Beloit's Elizabeth Kalk was held to five points, 16 below her MWC-best scoring average.
 
The Rams shot 82.6 percent from the foul line, draining 19-of-23 attempts. Beloit went 12-of-24 from the charity stripe.  
 
Coming up – Cornell plays host to rival Coe at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Kohawks edged the Rams in the season opener, 57-52.