Box Score Washington U. 87, Illinois Wesleyan 77 - Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team will play for third place in the nation after losing 87-77 to defending champion Washington U., at the Shirk Center on Friday, March 18.

The Titans fell to 27-5 and will meet Christopher Newport (29-4) in the third place contest at 4 p.m. omn Saturday, March 19. Amherst (31-1) defeated the Captains, 69-59, in the first semifinal game.

Illinois Wesleyan set an NCAA championship tournament game record by making 15 3-point field goals, topping the old mark of 14 held by Hardin SImmons vs, Eastern Mennonite in 2004; Bridgewater vs. Bates in 2006; and George Fox vs. The College of New Jersey in 2009.

The Titans trailed by a 45-42 score at halftime and the Bears built up a 12 point lead at 71-59 and led by a dozen at 73-61 with 7:48 to play before the Titans went on an 11-2 run to close to within three points at 75-72 with 5:41 to play.

Illinois Wesleyan shot 28 of 61 from the field (.459) and made the record 15 field goal tried in 30 attempts (.500). The Titans made six of 10 free throws (.600).

Senior Nikki Preston and junior Olivia Lett each scored 20 in the loss for the Titans. Seniors Stacey Arlis and Hope Schulte scored 12 and 10 points, respectively. Arlis and Preston each grabbed six rebounds.

Washington U. shot .525 from the floor (31 of 59) and made five of 12 (.417) from outside the arc. The Bears made 20 of 27 from the free throw line and scored 48 points in the paint compared to 20 for the Titans.

The Bears got 28 points from Kathryn Berger and 12 points out of Alex Hoover. Kristin Anda added 10. Dani Hoover and Hannah Cusworth led Washington U, with seven rebounds each as the Bears held a commanding 37-29 rebound edge.

The Titans committed 12 turnovers compared to only eight by Washington U.