Box Score Illinois Wesleyan 73, Washington U. 68 - Box Score

GREENCASTLE, Ind. - Senior Nikki Preston scored a career-high 28 points and Illinois Wesleyan rallied from a 12-point second half deficit to down defending champion Washington U., 73-68, on Saturday, November 20 in Greencastle, Ind.

Illinois Wesleyan, who trailed 51-39 with 14:22 to go in the game, was behind by a 68-66 score with 1:36 to play before Preston hit a 3-pointer to put IWU on top to stay 69-68. The Titans scored the final seven points of the game as the final four points came on free throws by senior Hope Schulte.

Preston also connected on a career-best 11 of 12 free throw attempts. Her previous career highs were 25 points and 10 free throws against Wis.-Whitewater on Jan. 2, 2010.

Junior Olivia Lett had 15 points and Schulte added 10 as IWU improved to 1-1 this season. Senior Stacey Arlis tied her career-high with 11 rebounds to lead the Titans, who were outrebounded by a 40-39 margin.

The Titans shot 33.9 percent for the game from the field (20 of 59) and hit on six of 18 shots from beyond the arc (33.3) while the Bears (now 1-1 this season) shot 40.7 percent (22 of 54) from the floor and made five of 11 3-point tries (45.5 percent). 

Illinois Wesleyan made 27 of 35 free throw attempts for a 77.5 percentage and the Bears were at the line 27 times and made 19 (.704).

Washington U., who got 22 points from Kathryn Berger and 15 from Jordan Rettig, was guilty of 25 turnovers and the Titans committed 20.

Illinois Wesleyan opens its home season with a 7 p.m. tipoff on Tuesday, November 22, against Wis.-Whitewater.