STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team held the lead for most of the game but lost a 62-58 decision to No. 22-ranked Wis.-Stevens Point at the Pointers Tip-Off Tournament at Berg Gym in Stevens Point, Wis. on Sunday, Nov. 20.
Illinois Wesleyan is 1-1 and the Pointers improved to 3-0.
Juniors
Molly McGraw and
Rebekah Ehresman were selected to the all-tournament team. McGraw led IWU with 16 points against the Pointers while Ehresman added 12 points, 10 of those in the first half, and had 10 rebounds. Ehresman was also named the tournament's "Chairman of the Boards" for getting the most rebounds in the tournament (18).
Sophomore
Maddie Merritt also scored in double digits with 10 points while grabbing five rebounds.
IWU led for 27:25 of the game and held a 56-55 advantage with 52 seconds remaining when Lexi Roland's 3-pointer gave the Pointers a 58-56 lead. Senior
Gabrielle Holness scored a bucket with :36 remaining to tie the game at 58-58.
But Illinois Wesleyan uncharacteristically committed two turnovers in the final :12 of the game and the Pointers tacked on free throws by Roland, Lauren Anklam and Autumn Hennes to seal the finish.
The Titans trailed 8-2 early before going on a 14-4 run to command a 16-12 lead with 1:22 left in the first quarter. IWU led 18-13 after one and won the second quarter 12-11. The Pointers battled back to tie the game at 20, 22 and 24 before IWU scored the final six points of the half with three each from Merritt and junior Ehresman to hold a 30-24 halftime advantage.
Illinois Wesleyan shot .364 from the field (24 of 66) and connected on .105 of its 3-pointers (2 of 19). The Titans were outrebounded, 40-36, but committed only 14 turnovers while forcing 17.
Hennes, who was chosen as the tournament's "Most Valuable Player", scored 27 points to lead the Pointers. Anklam also had 10 points for Wis.-Stevens Point and Payton Mix was their rebound leader with eight.
What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan opens its home season with a 5 p.m. game Tuesday, Nov. 22, against Wis.-Whitewater. The Warhawks are 3-0 after winning the Wis.-Eau Claire tournament last weekend.
