Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - After rallying to lead by four at halftime, the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team was outscored 48-21 in the final 20 minutes in an 82-59 loss to No. 8 Washington U. in the Midwest Challenge championship game on Sunday, Nov. 30 in Jacksonville, Ill.

The No. 22-ranked Titans are now 4-2 and the Bears improved to 5-0. Historically, Washington U. now leads the series against IWU, 19-5.

Illinois Wesleyan outscored the Bears 16-2 in the final 4:56 of the first half to take a lead into the locker room. IWU trailed by a 32-22 score with 4:56 to play in the first half before tying the game at 34-34 with 1:54 to play and getting baskets from freshman Molly McGraw and sophomore Shelby Gray to grab a 38-34 edge.

The Titans led for the final time at 44-43 with 14:54 remaining and were within two at 53-51 after a Gray 3-pointer with 11:25 to go. But the Bears outscored IWU, 29-8, the rest of the way to earn the win. Washington U. outrebounded IWU, 38-31, and the Titans committed 21 turnovers to 17 for the Bears, who scored 25 points off IWU turnovers.

McGraw finished with a career-high 22 points to pace IWU.

Illinois Wesleyan Statistics and Leaders
Field goal percentage: .393 (22 of 56)
3-point percentage: .261 (6 of 23)
Free throw percentage: .563 (9 of 16)
McGraw (22 points, 9 of 13 from field)
Sophomore Gabrielle Holness (13 points)
Gray (10 points)
Freshman Rebekah Ehresman (team highs of 7 rebounds and 5 assists)

Washington U. Statistics and Leaders
Field goal percentage: .544 (31 of 57)
3-point percentage: .462 (6 of 13)
Free throw percentage: .667 (14 of 21)
Melissa Gilkey (24 points, 10 rebounds)
Maddy Scheppers (19 points)
Alyssa Johanson (18 points)

What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan will play next at the Shirk Center on Saturday, Dec. 6, hosting the University of Chicago in a 1 p.m. tipoff ... The Maroons are 1-3 after a 67-55 loss at Carthage on Nov. 30 ... Historically, the IWU vs. Chicago series is 4-4.