COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team defeated Oberlin College by a score of 79-52 on day one of the Pikes Peak Holiday Classic, hosted by Colorado College at Reid Arena in Colorado Springs.

The Titans improved to 9-2 and the Yeowomen fell to 6-3.

Illinois Wesleyan shot 40.8 percent from the field including a 45.5 percent performance in the second half of play. IWU struggled from behind the arc shooting just 3-of-18 on Friday afternoon. Defensively, the Titans held Oberlin to a lowly 34.5 percent shooting performance (19-of-55) which included a 3-of-11 mark from downtown.

Illinois Wesleyan controlled the boards holding a 49-40 rebounding advantage over the Yeowomen which included a 21-10 advantage on the offensive glass. Using their rebounding advantage IWU scored 15 second-chance points. The Titans won the turnover battle, forcing 26 turnovers to just 13 committed. The Titans scored 26 points off of turnovers during the contest.

Junior Maddie Merritt led the way with a game-high 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting alongside a game-high 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Senior Rebekah Ehresman was the Titans only other double figure scorer, finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds, and a team-high three assists. Junior Ashley Schneider, junior Nina Anderson, and freshman Kendall Sosa each finished with seven points. Ehresman and Anderson led the team with three steals apiece.

All 13 members of the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team made an appearance on Friday. Freshman Anna Lowis connected on her first career field-goal attempt, a lay-up in the fourth quarter.

Oberlin was led by Alex Stipano who chipped in a team-high 16 points and Ally Driscoll who finished with 10. Tyler Parlor finished with team-highs in rebounds with eight and assists with five.

What's Next?
The Titans are back in action tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 30) when they face Lewis & Clark at 1 p.m. MST ... The Pioneers improved to 6-4 as they defeated the host Colorado College Tigers, 60-51, in Friday's opening game.