WHEATON, Ill. -- Illinois Wesleyan jumped out to an early lead, held Carthage to just six field goals in the first half and went on to a comfortable 78-59 win over the Lady Reds in the semifinal of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin postseason tournament on Friday, Feb. 22, at Wheaton's King Arena.

The Titans improved to 22-4 and Carthage's season comes to an end with a 17-10 record. Illinois Wesleyan will play tourney No. 1 seed Wheaton at 7 p.m. Saturday for the CCIW postseason tourney title. The Thunder, winners of the CCIW regular season title, improved to 22-4 with a 68-56 semifinal win over North Park on Friday. Go here to see CCIW championships website.

Senior Maddie Merritt led IWU with 19 points and six rebounds and sophomore Kendall Sosa added 13 points. Senior Ashley Schneider also had six rebounds and scored 12 points and junior Sydney Shanks scored 10 points and handed out a team-best five assists. Twenty-two of IWU's 30 baskets (73 percent) were the result of an assist.

The Titans won the rebounding war, 35-30, with 15 coming on the offensive glass and IWU scored 30 points coming off 24 Lady Reds turnovers. Illinois Wesleyan built up a 17-7 lead after the first quarter and won the second period by a 17-9 score to lead at the half, 34-16, holding the Lady Reds to .286 shooting from the field (six of 21).

Carthage was led by the 13 point and six rebound effort of Autumn Kalis.

NOTES: Only six other IWU teams in history have won more than 22 games. Go here to see season records ... The Titans have lost both regular season games to the Thunder, falling by a 56-54 score on Jan. 2 in Bloomington (box score) and losing 58-52 at Wheaton on Jan. 31 (box score) ... The NCAA Division III women's championship selection show will be at 1:30 p.m. (Central) at NCAA.com.