NAPERVILLE, Ill. – A strong all-around effort led the No. 23/24 Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team to a convincing 94-49 victory over North Central College in its College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opener Wednesday night, Dec. 4, at Gregory Arena. Five players scored in double figures to move the Titans to 6-2 overall and 1-0 in league play, while NCC dipped to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in the CCIW.

Freshman Katelyn Heller (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard West) led Illinois Wesleyan's double-digit scoring efforts with a career-high 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting to go along with three steals, three assists, and three rebounds. Senior Sydney Shanks (Bloomington, Ill.-Central Catholic) added 13 points a team-best seven rebounds. Meanwhile, sophomore Brooke Lansford (Leawood, Kan.-Blue Valley West), junior Kendall Sosa (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community), and sophomore Catie Eck (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred Heart-Griffin) chipped in 11 points apiece.

IWU wasted little time getting out in front as Lansford found Brovelli for a jumper to put the Titans up three, 9-6, with 6:54 to play. The dish sparked a 20-0 IWU run that spanned nearly 10 minutes and sent Illinois Wesleyan into the half with a 52-22 advantage.

The Titans did not waver in the second half, going up by as many as 48. Freshmen Megan Moody (Gibson City, Ill.-Gibson City/Melvin-Sibley), Emily Collins (Arlington Heights, Ill.-John Hersey), and Hannah Smith (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) made the most of their time on the floor. Moody scored a career-best five points to go along with two steals, while Collins and Smith added four and five points, respectively.

For the game, Illinois Wesleyan went 35-for-69 from the floor (50.7 percent) and 8-of-17 from distance (47.1 percent). IWU was equally strong at the free throw line, converting 16-of-21 freebies for a 76.2 clip. On the flip side, the Titan defense held the Cardinals to 18-of-60 from the floor and just 5-of-25 from beyond the three-point line.

Illinois Wesleyan held a commanding 45-37 advantage on the glass, and dished out 21 assists to NCC's 13. The Titans forced 23 turnovers and turned the miscues into 31 points, while IWU's bench outscored North Central's 48-28.

With its season-opening eight-game roadtrip in the rearview mirror, Illinois Wesleyan hosts Carthage College in its home opener Saturday, Dec. 7, at 5 p.m. inside the Shirk Center.