Box Score

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa - Despite shooting only 30.6 percent from the field in the first half, the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team was able to come away with a 65-64 win over host Cornell College at the Cornell College Classic on Sunday, Nov. 16. IWU is now 2-0 this season while the host Rams lost for the first time this season. 

The Titans found themselves in a back and forth first half, which saw no team build a lead of more than seven points and five lead changes. Cornell was able to come away with a one point lead at halftime, taking a 29-28 lead into the locker room despite shooting only 38.2 from the field.

IWU and Cornell would exchange baskets to start the second half before the Titans would go on an 11-2 run to take an eight point lead with 14:39 left in the game. IWU would open its largest lead of the game at 11 points off of a Samantha Ellsworth three with 8:46 left in the game, before the Rams would go on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to three with 6:10 left in the game. The Titans would then hold Cornell scoreless for a stretch of 2:16  to build a five point lead before giving up the last four points of the game to come away with the one point victory.

Senior guard Kasey Reaber led all scorers with 17 points including a seven of eight performance from the charity stripe, while also pulling down a team-high nine rebounds. 

Illinois Wesleyan Statistics and Leaders
Field goal percentage: 34.8 (23 of 66)
Three-point percentage: 23.1 (6 of 26)
Free throw percentage: 86.7 (13 of 15)
Reaber- 17 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists
Sophomore Gabrielle Holness- 12 points, 6 rebounds
Sophomore Amanda Kelly- 10 points, 3 rebounds

Mount Mercy Statistics and Leaders
Field goal percentage: 43.8 (28 of 64)
Three-point percentage: 32.0 (8 of 25)
Free throw percentage: 0.0 (0 of 3)
Maggie Hogen- 16 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks
Rikki Mulloy- 13 points
Renee Poulos- 9 points, 10 rebounds

Who's Next?
IWU will head north to face Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. The Titans home opener will be on Tuesday, Nov. 25, playing host to preseason No. 14-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater at 5 p.m.