BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Thanks to a season-best shooting performance, the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team defeated Wheaton College by a final score of 88-81 on Wednesday, Dec. 6. Four Titans finished with double-digit scoring to pace the offense.

With a win the Titans improved to 6-2 on the season with a 2-0 record in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). Wheaton falls to 4-2 and 1-1 in the CCIW with a loss.

Illinois Wesleyan shot a masterful 32-of-58 (.552) from the floor on Wednesday which included an 8-of-12 (.667) performance from beyond the arc. Defensively the Titans held the Thunder to .444 percent shooting overall and .250 percent shooting from 3-point range (4-of-16). Illinois Wesleyan's prowess from beyond the arc was key in Wednesday nights game as the Thunder out-rebounded the Titans 39-32 (18-12 in offensive rebounding).

Senior Rebekah Ehresman led the Titans with 16 points and six assists, while both junior Maddie Merritt and freshman Kendall Sosa each scored 15 points. Merritt led the team in rebounding with nine and Sosa shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the field. Freshman Raven Hughes was the final Titan in double-figures with 12 points, five rebounds, and four assists.

The first quarter was tightly contested despite Wheaton never surrendering the lead to Illinois Wesleyan. Up 21-20 in the closing seconds of the quarter, Maggie Dansdill hit a 3-pointer to give Wheaton a 24-20 advantage heading into the second.

In the second quarter a jump-shot from Hannah Frazier gave Wheaton their largest lead of the contest at seven points, 34-27. With their backs against the wall Illinois Wesleyan broke off a 17-5 run over the next five minutes of play to take a 44-39 lead over the Thunder. Eight of the 17 points came via Sosa who hit two 3-pointers and a lay-up during that five minute stretch. Illinois Wesleyan once again surrendered a late 3-pointer however, which gave Wheaton a 45-44 lead at halftime.

Trailing for a majority of the third quarter, a layup from Ehresman with 2:49 remaining gave Illinois Wesleyan a lead they wouldn't relinquish. An 11-5 run to end the third gave the Titans a five point advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Wheaton tied the game at 70 with 8:46 to play, but Illinois Wesleyan responded with a 14-2 run to give themselves the largest lead of the contest ( 12) at 84-72. Ehresman scored eight of the 14 points during the run and both Merritt and sophomore Sydney Shanks converted on and-one opportunities.

The Thunder were led in scoring by Frazier who scored a game-high 25 on 9-of-12 shooting and Dansdill who added 19 points on 6-of-15 shooting. Devin Kyler hauled in a game-high 16 rebounds for Wheaton and Jordan Myroth led the team with six assists.

What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan continues conference play on the road on Saturday, Dec. 9 with a 5:00 p.m. tilt against North Central College. The Cardinals are currently 1-5 overall and 1-1 in the CCIW after defeating Carthage College, 81-87, in overtime on Dec. 6