Box Score

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – For the second straight exhibition game against a Division I opponent, the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team gave the hosts a scare before losing, 81-71, at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Monday, Nov. 5.
 
Illinois Wesleyan, who lost 86-82 last week at Division I Eastern Illinois, led SIUE by as many as eight points at 28-20 with 7:39 to play in the first half before the Cougars went on a 20-10 run to lead at halftime 40-38.
IWU trailed by eight at 48-40 early in the third quarter, rallied to tie the game at 53-53 and took their last lead of the game at 58-57 with 1:06 left in the third. The Titans were outscored 20-11 in the final period.
 
IWU sophomore Kendall Sosa and senior Maddie Merritt each scored a team-high 16 points with three other players contributing 10 points each – junior Sydney Shanks, senior Ashley Schneider and freshman Catie Eck, who was perfect from the field, making all four attempts including two 3-pointers.
 
Schneider and sophomore Raven Hughes each had six rebounds as the Titans were beaten on the boards by 10 (46-36). Merritt sank all nine of her free throw attempts as the team was 13-of-19.
 
Both teams shot 40 percent from the field with IWU making 24 of 60 and SIUE netting 28 of 70. The Titans hit 10 of 22 3-pointers (45 percent) and the Cougars made nine of 38 (24 percent).
Illinois Wesleyan committed 13 turnovers to 11 for SIUE.
 
Jay'Nee Alston had 26 points and Sydney Bauman had 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Cougars.
 
What's Next?
The No. 12-ranked Titans open their regular 2018-19 season on Sunday, Nov. 11, against the No. 7 ranked University of Chicago. The Maroons were 24-3 last season.