WHITTIER, Calif. – Winning its ninth straight game, the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team gave head coach Mia Smith her 400th career victory by topping Whittier College by a 56-48 score in the Whittier (Calif.) Holiday Inn La Mirada Purple & Gold Poets Classic on Saturday, Dec. 29.
 
In her 21st season as Titans' coach, Smith now has a record of 400-165. This year the Titans are 11-2 overall and the Poets slip to 5-5 with the home court loss.
 
As happened the night before, the Titans needed a terrific fourth quarter to come from behind and post the win. IWU trailed 25-23 at halftime and 38-36 after three quarters before taking over with a 20-10 final 8:00 to earn the win. The Titans trailed 44-42 with 5:27 remaining before going on a 12-0 run to get a 54-44 advantage with 2:25 left.

Illinois Wesleyan shot a season-low .345 from the field (19 of 55) and connected on three of 19 3-pointers (.158), also a season-low mark.
 
IWU held the Poets to a .262 field goal mark (16 of 61) and five of 24 for 3-pointers (.208).
 
Senior Ashley Schneider led the Titans with season-highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds while senior Maddie Merritt scored 15 points and also had 10 boards as IWU had a 43-32 rebound lead in the game. Junior Sydney Shanks scored 11 points.
 
Cali Cubel scored 10 points to lead the Poets. 
 
What's Next?
Illinois Wesleyan resumes College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play on Wednesday, Jan. 2, with a 7 p.m. home game against Wheaton College. With a 3-0 record in conference play, the Thunder is 9-3 overall after winning the title of the Bluffton (Ohio) College Tournament Dec. 28-29.