WHEATON, Ill. -- The No. 14-ranked Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team fell on the road to Wheaton College by a final score of 71-61 on Wednesday, Feb. 7. A loss on Wednesday snapped the Titans 16-game winning-streak that dated back to a 60-59 victory over Rose-Hulman on Nov. 26.

IWU's 16-game winning-streak tied the 2007-08 team for the third longest in program history.

With a loss the Titans fell to 18-3 on the season with an 11-1 record in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). Wheaton improved to 18-4 overall and 11-2 in conference play.

Wheaton's conference-leading defense held the Titans to a season-worst .254 shooting percentage (16-of-63), while the Titans allowed the Thunder to shoot .509 from the field on 27-of-53 shooting. Illinois Wesleyan was out-rebounded 42-35 despite hauling in 16 offensive rebounds. Wheaton controlled the paint all evening, out-scoring the Titans 30-16 and blocking eight shots.

Illinois Wesleyan's defense forced 20 turnovers and stole 15 passes, leading to 21 points off turnovers.

Senior Rebekah Ehresman led the team with a season-high 24 points which included a 13-of-16 performance from the free-throw line and eight rebounds (seven offensive). Sophomore Sydney Shanks followed closely with 16 points and six rebounds. The remaining Titans starters combined to shoot 4-of-25 from the field. Illinois Wesleyan's bench shot 2-of-14 and were out-scored 20-10 by the Thunder's bench.

Illinois Wesleyan briefly led by one point four minutes into the contest, but that was the last lead the Titans would hold. Wheaton's largest lead of the night (15 points) came half-way through the second quarter, with their lead hovering around 10 points for much of the game.

IWU brought the game within eight points with 2:32 remaining following an Ehresman lay-up, but Wheaton made each of the final three field-goal attempts to keep the game out of reach.

What's Next?

The Titans are back at home on Saturday, Feb. 10 for a 5:00 p.m. game against Carroll University. It's "Seniors' Night" for the Titans where they will honor the career's of Ehresman, Molly McGraw, and Kelsey Walsberg. Following a 67-65 loss to Augustana on Wednesday, Carroll fell to 7-14 and 4-8 in the CCIW.