NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Using a 54-30 rebounding advantage, the Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team defeated North Central College by a final score of 94-47 on Saturday, Dec. 9. Four Titans finished the game with double-digit scoring and eight Titans scored at least five points.

With a win, Illinois Wesleyan improves to 7-2 with an unblemished 3-0 mark in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). North Central fell to 1-6 overall and 1-2 in CCIW competition with a loss.

"We did a great job of scoring in transition and I loved how we were all engaged," head coach Mia Smith told WJBC Radio in a postgame interview.

Illinois Wesleyan shot a season-best 55.6 percent from the field on 40-of-72 shooting while holding North Central to a 19-of-64 shooting performance (29.7 percent). The Titans out-rebounded the Cardinals 54-30 which included a 14-9 offensive rebounding advantage. IWU turned those 14 offensive rebounds into 16 second-chance points. Illinois Wesleyan forced 20 turnovers in the contest compared to 14 committed and scored 30 points off of turnovers. North Central was unable to corral IWU in the post as the Titans scored 56 points in the paint.

Junior Ashley Schneider scored a season-high 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting and also hauled in five rebounds. "Ashley was really good about finding the open area and getting into it," Smith said. "We talked about getting her some better offensive looks and she finished the ones she got tonight."

Matching Schneider's scoring was junior Maddie Merritt who scored 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting and handled five boards. Senior Molly McGraw scored an efficient 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Freshman Raven Hughes was the final Titan in double-figures scoring 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Hughes upped her season shooting percentage to .638 with her effort on Saturday. Freshman Kendall Sosa tallied a team-high seven assists and senior Rebekah Ehresman had three steals.

The first quarter of action was closely contest, but a 3-pointer from Schneider in the closing seconds sprung the Titans out to an early six point lead. Illinois Wesleyan turned things up a notch in the second quarter out-scoring the Cardinals 27-9. Schneider scored 10 of her 16 total points in the second quarter on 5-of-5 shooting. The Titans scored 12 points off of turnovers in the second quarter after forcing six.

Illinois Wesleyan continued to run away with things in the third quarter outscoring the Cardinals 25-7. After a jumper from sophomore Sydney Shanks to give the Titans a 35 point lead, IWU handed over the reigns to their young core of freshman in Riley Brovelli, Sam Munroe, Anna Lowis, Hughes, and Sosa. Alongside senior Kelsey Walsberg, four freshman each played double-digit minutes in the second half. Hughes and Munroe scored all of their points in the second half, combining for 18. Junior Emily Farris also saw action in the second half hauling in two rebounds.

Lyndsey Brennan and Page Desenberg each scored seven points for NCC to lead the team. Mayson Whipple led all starters for the Cardinals with just three points. Brennan was the team's leading rebounder with seven, a game-high.

What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan is back in action on Saturday, December 16 following the conclusion of finals week. The Titans will resume their non-conference schedule taking on UW-Stevens Point at 5 p.m. from the Shirk Center. UWSP is currently 3-3 on the year, but will face North Central and Ripon prior to their meeting with the Titans.