ALBION, Mich. - Despite getting outscored 17-7 in the final quarter, the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team held on for a 57-54 victory at Albion College in the Albion College Tip-Off Tournament at the Kresge Gymnasum on Saturday, Nov. 21. 

IWU is now 2-0 on the season while the Britons fell to 0-3 to start the year. 

Sophomore Rebekah Ehresman scored a game-high 19 points, including 13 second half points to go along with a team-high eight rebounds and was named as the tournament's "Most Valuable Player." Illinois Wesleyan led 21-16 after 10 minutes of play and took a 35-30 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Titans would take their largest lead of the game with 22 seconds left in the third quarter off of an Ehresman free throw and led by 13 points after three quarters.

A three minute 22 second scoreless stretch in the fourth quarter allowed the Britons to cut the IWU lead to four (52-48) as Ehresman would again come up big with a three-point bucket. Albion's stifling defense held Illinois Wesleyan scoreless from the 5:14 mark to only eight seconds left in the game to make the game a three point game before Ehresman put the game on ice with two free throws. 

Junior Gabrielle Holness, who was also named to the all-tournament team, pitched in 10 points and thee offensive rebounds to help lead IWU to 13 second chance points. Illinois Wesleyan scored 20 points off 19 Briton turnovers while committing 19 turnovers of their own which led to 13 Albion points. Freshman Maddie Merrit brought down seven caroms and had three blocks while adding four points in 19 minutes of action off the bench. 

What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan continues a season-opening seven game road trip with a game at Wisconsin Whitewater on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m. Last season, the Warhawks left the Shirk Center with a 75-72 victory despite a game-high 17 points by junior Shelby Gray.