Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team shot only 40.6 percent from the free throw line (13-32) en route to a 75-72 home opening loss to Wis.-Whitewater at the Shirk Center on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

Illinois Wesleyan, ranked No. 22 in this week's D3hoops.com poll, is now 3-1 this season while the visiting Warhawks improve to 2-3 overall. The last time the Titans lost their home opener was Dec. 10, 2011 when Wis.-Stevens Point defeated the Titans, 82-68.

Foul trouble and injuries doomed the Titans for much of the game as senior starter Emily Beoletto left the game 19 seconds into the contest with a leg injury and did not return. Three Titan starters had two fouls in the first half, including sophomore Gabrielle Holness with three, but the Titans were able to make it to the locker room down only five by a score of 41-35.

IWU started the second half on a 13-3 run to take a five point lead, holding the Warhawks to only five points the first 8:38 of the second half. Foul trouble again played a large role in the Titans gameplan, as Holness fouled out with eight minutes left in the game and freshman Molly McGraw picked up her fourth foul with 7:45 left in the game.

The Titans held onto a six-point lead for most of the second half, before the Warhawks would take advantage of a size advantage down low to tie the game at 71-71 with 46 seconds to go. Senior Kasey Reaber missed an ensuing layup, but was fouled on the play and hit one of two free throws to give the Titans a 72-71 lead with 27.6 seconds to go.

The Warhawks were fouled with 12.3 seconds to go and hit both free throws to take a 73-72 lead and then held the Titans scoreless before being fouled again on the rebound. Whitewater sank both free throws to take a 75-72 lead and a final 3-point shot by sophomore Shelby Gray at the buzzer rimmed out. 

Illinois Wesleyan Statistics and Leaders
Field goal percentage: 40.0 (26 of 65)
3-point percentage: 41.2 (7 of 17)
Free throw percentage: 40.6 (13 of 32)
Reaber- 12 points, 1 rebounds, 1 assist
Gray- 17 points, 5 3-pointers
McGraw - 9 points, 7 rebounds

UW-Whitewater Statistics and Leaders
Field goal percentage: 40.3 (25 of 62)
3-point percentage: 21.1 (4 of 19)
Free throw percentage: 80.8 (21 of 26)
Brooke Trewyn- 14 points, 7 rebounds
Abbie Reeves- 10 points, 5 rebounds
Lisa Palmer- 13 points, 18 rebounds

Who's Next?
IWU will take part in the Midwest Challenge Nov. 29-30 hosted by Illinois College in Jacksonville, Ill. The Titans will play No. 9-ranked DePauw at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29 and will play either No. 8-ranked Washington U. or Illinois College on Sunday at either 2 or 4 p.m.