TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Senior Maddie Merritt scored a career-high 29 points and the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team got off to another fast start in securing an 81-63 win over Washington U. in the title game of the annual Midwest Challenge on Sunday, Nov. 25, in Terre Haute, Ind.

The No. 11-ranked Titans improved to 4-2 while the No. 19 Bears are now 2-2.

IWU shot out to an early 15-3 lead and led 20-12 after the first quarter, with a solid defensive effort limiting the Bears to .231 shooting from the field (three of 13) while firing at a .421 clip (eight of 19).
The Titans built up a 47-29 halftime advantage and made 11 of 17 field goals in the second quarter to be shooting .528 (19 of 36) in the first 20 minutes.

Merritt made 12 of 14 from the field, including her lone 3-pointer, and was four of six from the free throw line. Junior Sydney Shanks added 17 points and a career-high nine assists with senior Ashley Schneider and sophomore Raven Hughes chipping in 10 points apiece. Schneider also had her career-best in assists with eight as the Titans amassed 27 assists on their 32 baskets (84 percent).

Hughes led the Titans with six rebounds as WashU held a 37-31 lead on the boards in the game.

Samantha Weaver scored 11 as the sole Bear to tally in double figures.

What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan opens its College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin season with a 5 p.m. game on Saturday, Dec. 1, against Carthage College. The Lady Reds are 3-1 this season and were picked third in the 2018-19 CCIW preseason coaches' poll.