Box Score Illinois Wesleyan 65, Wheaton 63 - Box Score

WHEATON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team took a giant step toward a fourth straight College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title with a 65-63 win at Wheaton on Saturday, February 12. Senior Stacey Arlis scored 17 of her 25 points in the second half to help IWU to the win.

The No. 13-ranked Titans, who led 40-38 at halftime, improved to 18-4 and 10-1 in the league while the Thunder fell to 16-6 overall and 9-3 in the CCIW.

The game was tied at 61-61 with 1:27 to play before Arlis made a basket with 1:04 left to give the Titans a 63-61 edge. Wheaton missed a shot with 45 seconds to play and junior Karen Solari grabbed the rebound. Late free throws with 4 seconds to play by senior Nikki Preston put IWU ahead 65-61 and the Thunder's Elisabeth Potts made a bucket with 1 second left to make the final score.

IWU was 25 of 57 (.352) from the field, made five of 25 3-point efforts (.200) and hit on 10 of 15 free throws (.611).

Arlis, who had 11 rebounds, was 11 of 15 from the floor and was 22 of 26 from the field in her two games this week for an .846 percentage. Against Wheaton, the Titans held a commanding 46-36 rebounding advantage as Solari also collected a career-high 11 boards. Her previous career high was eight rebounds at LaVerne on Dec. 29, 2009.

The Thunder, who shot .412 (21 of 51) from the field for the game, were led by the 19 points of Laura Karsten while Potts scored 17 points. Wheaton was seven of 22 (.318) from the 3-point zone and made 14 of 20 free throws (.700). Karsten also had 10 rebounds.

Wheaton committed 15 turnovers compared to 10 for IWU.

The Titans play next at North Central at 7:30 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 17 in the make-up of the game snowed out earlier this month.