MILWAUKEE – Three players posted double-doubles as the MSOE women's basketball team jumped out to a 21-4 lead and never looked back in cruising to a 72-44 victory over Illinois Tech Wednesday evening at the Kern Center.

The Raiders (7-1) knocked off the Scarlet Hawks (0-9) for their fifth-straight win and surpassed the 2011-12 team (6-2) for the best start in school history.

Sophomore Holly Denfeld led the way with 22 points, 11 rebounds and five steals. Senior Marly Trier finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and four steals. Sophomore Shaylan Reardon scored 16 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.

Kaylee Wicka led Illinois Tech with 18 points. Adrianna Maron hit three consecutive three-pointers late to join her in double-digits.

Despite their offense getting off to a rocky start, the Raiders held their opponents scoreless for the first 5:56 of the game. IIT missed its first eight shots and had six turnovers, while MSOE scored the first 10 points of the night and by the 7:44 mark had a 21-4 advantage.

The game was 37-20 at halftime with neither team shooting very well from the field, each finishing the half below 30 percent. The Raiders forced 17 turnovers, including 11 steals. Denfeld and Reardon each had 14 points in the half, with Denfeld adding nine rebounds and four steals.

Wicka led Illinois Tech with 12 of her points before halftime.

In the second half, it was much of the same as MSOE built its lead as high as 37 at 68-61.

The Raiders finished the game shooting 34.7 percent, but did go 19-for-25 from the free throw line. They also pulled down 57 rebounds in the game, which is tied for third-most in school history and included 25 offensive boards. Defensive, MSOE limited the Scarlet Hawks to just 29.3 percent shooting and forced 25 turnovers with 26 steals.

MSOE returns to the Kern Center court Saturday, hosting Lakeland at 2 p.m.