Box Score

KENOSHA, Wis. - After falling behind by 13 at halftime, the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team was unable to complete a comeback in a 68-57 loss to Carthage at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis., on Saturday, Jan. 31. 

IWU drops to 8-12 overall and 2-7 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while Carthage improves to 12-8 and 5-4 in the CCIW. Carthage swept the season series between the two squads and has now won four of the last five contests against the Titans. Illinois Wesleyan last won against the Lady Reds in Kenosha on Feb. 9, 2013 when the Titans came away with a 76-75 overtime win. 

The Titans' only lead of the game came in the first half off of a Samantha Ellsworth layup to give IWU a 20-18 lead with 5:57 left in the period. From that point on, Carthage closed out the half on a 19-4 run to take a 37-24 lead into the locker room thanks in part to outrebounding IWU 26-10.  
 
IWU fought their way back throughout the second half, cutting the Lady Reds lead to as little as two points when freshman Rebekah Ehresman hit a 3-pointer to make the score 52-50 with 6:25 left in the game. But Carthage scored the next nine points of the game, holding the Titans scoreless over a span of three minutes. Illinois Wesleyan got no closer than six as Carthage hit free throws down the stretch to sew up the win. 
 
The Lady Reds held a 46-25 advantage on the glass, and benefited from 36 points in the paint compared to only 18 for the Titans. IWU forced Carthage into 24 turnovers, resulting in 21 points, but could not overcome a 10-of-20 (.500) effort from the charity stripe.
 
Illinois Wesleyan Statistics, Leaders
Field goal percentage- .356(21-of-59)
3-point field goal percentage- .263 (5-of-19)
Free throw percentage- .500 (10-of-20)
Senior Kasey Reaber - (14 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds)
Freshman Molly McGraw – (11 points, 6 rebounds)
Ehresman - (10 points)
 
Carthage Statistics, Leaders
Field goal percentage- .511(23-of-45)
3-point field goal percentage- .500 (5-of-10)
Free throw percentage- .739 (17-of-23)
Morgan Harris- (17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists)
Alexis Hahn – (14 points, 14 rebounds)
Taylor Boardman – (11 points, 11 rebounds)
 
Who's Next?
The Titans return home for the first time since Jan. 21st to host Millikin on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Millikin, with a 13-7 overall record and 4-5 mark in the conference, defeated the Titans 85-80 in Decatur earlier this season to snap a 16-game losing streak to the Titans dating back to the 2007-08 season ... The Big Blue lost to Elmhurst 72-49 at Elmhurst on Saturday.