BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team fell to No. 8-ranked Washington University in St. Louis on Sunday, Nov. 27 by a final score of 87-86. Junior Molly McGraw scored a game-high 33 points on 13-of-27 shooting from the field.

With a loss the Titans fall to 2-3 on the season while WashU. improved to 5-0 overall.

Illinois Wesleyan was hot out of the gate, utilizing McGraw and senior Rebekah Ehresman to take a nine point lead in the first period with 2:47 to play. Ehresman had four points and two assists in the period. WashU. went on to cut that lead to seven prior to the end of the period, following jumpers from Steph Botkin and Lily Sarros.

IWU held a 36-34 advantage heading into the locker room at halftime due in part to 15 first half points from McGraw. The three-point shooting of sophomore Nina Anderson was a difference maker as Anderson went 2-of-4 from beyond the arc in the first.

WashU. dominated the third period, outscoring IWU 31-20. The Bears closed the quarter on a 19-10 run to pull ahead of the Titans by nine points heading into the fourth period.

Down by 14 with 8:56 remaining, the Titans mounted a comeback, outscoring the Bears 30-17 over the final nine minutes of play. Ehresman and McGraw combined for 15 of the teams 30 points in the period, with four points being added from each of seniors Gabrielle Holness and Amanda Kelly, and sophomore Maddie Merritt. Defensively, IWU held the Bears scoreless over the final 1:48 played.

Illinois Wesleyan's high-pressure defense forced WashU. into committing 27 turnovers during the contest. The Titans held a distinct 27-16 advantage on points scored off turnovers.

McGraw's 33 points marked a new career-high for the junior, out-doing her 28 point performance against Elmhurst on 1/2/2016. Ehresman led the team in rebounding and assists with seven and six, while Kelly followed closely behind on the glass with six.

Jenn Dynis was the leading scorer for the Bears with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting (2-of-2 from three). Dynis added eight rebounds to her final tally with four coming on the offensive end. WashU. found success in the paint against IWU, outscoring the Titans 42-32.

What's Next?

Illinois Wesleyan will face Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Shirk Center on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan. Rose-Hulman enters the contest with a record of 4-1. The Engineers defeated a pair of CCIW foes in North Central and North Park over the weekend.