ROCK ISLAND, Ill. -- Illinois Wesleyan senior Maddie Merritt scored 28 points to lead the No. 13-ranked Titans to an 83-76 win at Augustana College at the Carver PE Center in Rock Island, Ill., on Saturday, Dec. 8.

Winners of six straight games, Illinois Wesleyan's record improved to 8-2 overall and 3-0 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while the Vikings are now 4-5 overall and 1-2 in the CCIW.

Merritt, who was nine-of-19 from the field, was eight-for-eight in free throws and now has 337 in her career, the most in an IWU career and eclipsing the mark of 330 by Rebekah  Ehresman (108 games, 2014-18).

Senior Nina Anderson had three 3-pointers and chipped in with 15 points and freshman Brooke Lansford scored a career-high 13 points, also canning three 3-pointers. Sophomore Raven Hughes netted 11 points and had a game-high nine rebounds as the Titans held a 37-31 lead on the boards in the contest and outscored the Vikings, 27-9, in second-chance points.
Junior Sydney Shanks, who fouled out, led IWU with five assists. The Titans played without sophomore Kendall Sosa, the team's third-leading scorer, who attended the funeral of her grandmother.

Illinois Wesleyan trailed early in the game 10-9 before going on a 23-0 surge to claim a 24-10 lead after one quarter and a massive 32-10 bulge with 8:21 before halftime. But the Vikings battled back and got within six (40-34) at halftime. With 39 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Augustana closed to within five points (55-50) but could get no closer.

Izzy Anderson scored 21 points and Alexis Jones had 16 points and eight rebounds for Augustana.

What's Next?
The Titans break for finals before their next game at home against Carroll University on Saturday, Dec. 15, at 5 p.m. ... Check your closets, as that game has been designated as "Ugly Christmas Sweater Night" at the Shirk Center.