CHICAGO – The Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team used a strong start to knock off No. 18 University of Chicago Tuesday night, Nov. 12, in the Windy City. The Titans led from wire-to-wire as junior Kendall Sosa (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) turned in one of the best offensive performances in program history.
 
Sosa finished the night 13-of-19 from the floor, highlighted by five three-pointers, to tally a career-high 35 points. Her final total is fifth-most in IWU single game history and the most since Molly McGraw net 37 points at North Central, Dec. 3, 2016. Meanwhile, her 13 makes are tied for second-most all-time. She also added a team-high four steals, two rebounds, and two assists.
 
Senior Sydney Shanks (Bloomington, Ill.-Central Catholic), junior Riley Brovelli (Oglesby, Ill.-LaSalle-Peru), and sophomore Brooke Lansford (Leawood, Kan.-Blue Valley West) also reached double figures. Shanks recorded 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting to go along with seven rebounds and five assists in a stat-stuffing effort, and Brovelli notched her second straight double-double. The Oglesby, Ill. product grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and scored 14 points, while Lansford chipped in 10 points.
 
Illinois Wesleyan outscored Chicago 24-14 in the opening period behind a balanced offensive output. Sosa net seven first quarter points, while Brovelli, Shanks, and junior Sam Munroe (St. Charles, Ill.-St. Charles East) posted five apiece.
 
IWU's shooting slowed down in the second period, allowing UC to cut into the Titans' advantage. The Maroons went 9-of-12 from the floor in the quarter aided by nine points off the bench from Alina Brennan to trim the Titans edge to 39-37 into halftime.
 
Out of the break, Chicago tied the game at 39 all before Illinois Wesleyan 17-5 run over a six-minute span to move ahead by 12, 58-46.
 
In front by eight ahead of the fourth quarter, IWU hit its free throws down the stretch to claim the 89-82 victory.
 
As a team, Illinois Wesleyan shot 51.5 percent from the floor and 42.1 percent from beyond the arc. Chicago also shot the ball well, finishing the game with a 55.4 field goal percentage. UC knocked down nine triples to IWU's eight, but the Titans converted 78.6 percent of their free throw attempts to the Maroons' 64.7 percent.

Illinois Wesleyan returns to action at the St. Norbert Tipoff Tournament this weekend, Nov. 15-16. IWU takes on UW-Stout Friday night, Nov. 15, at 5 p.m. The Titans will then play either St. Norbert of Calvin Saturday, Nov. 16, at 1 or 3 p.m.