BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Illinois Wesleyan senior Maddie Merritt scored a career-high 26 points but the Titans fell short of a victory, losing by a 78-73 score to visiting Wisconsin-Whitewater on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the Shirk Center.

The No. 11-ranked Titans slip to 2-2 overall this season while the No. 21 Warhawks are now 3-1 and winners of three straight.

In the game, Merritt boosted her career point total to 1,011 points, 22nd all-time at IWU and one of only 23 to surpass 1,000 points in school history.

Senior Ashley Schneider was the only other Titan to score in double figures, hitting for 16. Sophomore Riley Brovelli pulled down a game-high seven rebounds to lead IWU, who was outrebounded 38-35 and by a 19-12 margin in the second half alone.

The Titans built up an early lead by as many as 12 points in the first quarter, the latest at 24-12 with 28 seconds remaining. IWU held on to the lead throughout the second period and into the third quarter before the Warhawks tied the game at 41-41 with 8:39 left in the third quarter. The game was tied six more times in the third quarter and twice more in the final period, the last time at 73-73 with 1:04 left in the contest on a layup by Emily Schumacher followed by a free throw to give the Warhawks a 74-73 lead.

Two IWU missed field goal tries in the final 33 seconds led to defensive rebounds which led to fouls and four free throws by Becky Raeder, who scored 21 to lead the Warhawks.

What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan plays No. 9-ranked DePauw at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 24 in the opening game of the Midwest Challenge in Terre Haute, Ind. ... The Tigers are 3-0 with wins over Augustana (68-58), Otterbein (59-47) and Trine (68-66) ... On Sunday the Titans will meet either Rose-Hulman (1-2) or Washington U. (1-1).