Box Score

WHITTIER, Calif. - The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team won its third straight game, rallying from 14 behind in the first half and claiming an 83-61 win over King's (Pa.) at the Purple & Gold Poet Classic in Whittier, Calif., on Thursday (Dec. 29).

IWU improved to 6-4 with the win while King's fell to 7-3. The Titans will play Whittier at 6 p.m. Central time on Friday.

The Titans got 18 points and eight rebounds from senior Olivia Lett and a career-high 17 points and five rebounds out of sophomore Shelby Jackson. Junior Melissa Gardner contributed 15 points.

Illinois Wesleyan trailed by 14 points at 29-15 with 8:28 to play in the first half before going on a 13-point run to draw within one at 29-28 with 5:41 left. A basket by sophomore Colleen McMahon tied the issue at 30-30 with 4:33 left and IWU never trailed from then on, building a 37-33 lead at the half.

IWU shot 56 percent from the field, making 36 of 64 shots, and connected on five of 16 3-pointers (31 percent). IWU made only six of 11 free throws (55 percent).

The Lions were 23 of 61 from the floor (38 percent) and nine of 27 from beyond the arc (33 percent). King's struggled from the free throw line, zeroing in on only six of 17 (35 percent).

IWU outrebounded King's 43-37 and forced 19 turnovers while committing 18.

King's got 14 points each from Lindsay Atchison and Samantha Simcox.