BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team begins a brief two-game roadtrip at R.A. Faganel Hall Wednesday night, Jan. 15, against Elmhurst College in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin midweek matchup. Tipoff between the Titans and Bluejays is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Returning to action for the first time in a week, Illinois Wesleyan enters the CCIW clash at 10-4 on the season and 4-1 in league play. IWU rolled North Park 82-51 in Bloomington, Jan. 4, to move into first-place in the league. Meanwhile, Elmhurst saw its record dip to 6-8 overall, 1-4 in league play, with an 8-75 setback at the hands of North Park, Jan. 11.
Fans can tune into the games via live stats or live stream, while Eric Stock and Joel Swanson will have the call on IWUsports.com. Links on how to follow along can be found on the women's basketball schedule page of IWUsports.com.
PICKED UP CCIW WIN NO. 300: With its win at Elmhurst Jan. 15, Illinois Wesleyan recorded its 300th College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin win all-time. IWU is just the third CCIW school to eclipse the 300-win mark, joining Augustana (431) and Wheaton (343).
TAKING IT UP A NOTCH: Since beginning CCIW play in December, the Titans have taken their play to another level. With six conference games under their belts the Titans lead the conference in scoring (79.2 ppg), scoring defense (62.3 ppg), scoring margin (+16.8), field goal percentage (45.1), turnover margin (+6.0), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.27), assists (18.17 apg), and steals (12.83 spg).
ONE OF A HANDFUL: Junior Kendall Sosa has put together quite a season through the Titans first 15 games. In addition to leading Illinois Wesleyan in scoring, Sosa is one of four players in the country to hold a shooting percentage line of at least 40-35-90.
The Bloomington, Ill. native is converting 43.4 percent of her shot attempts, 36.4 percent of her three-pointers, and is shooting 90 percent at the free throw line. She joins Brandeis' Camila Casanueva (45.8-43.3-94.4), Mary Washington's Madison Shifflett (45.3-40.0-92.0), and Salem State's Courtney Paschal (42.3-36.4-90.0).
PLAYING THE PIONEERS: Illinois Wesleyan and Carroll will meet on the hardwood Saturday afternoon for the 21st time, with the Pioneers owning a 14-6 lead in the all-time series. Despite Carroll's hold on the all-time tally, IWU has won six straight meetings against the Pioneers since Carroll rejoined the CCIW in the 2016-17 season.
Last time the two tangled, Illinois Wesleyan rode an early lead to a 63-48 win in Waukesha, Feb. 16, 2019. Four Titans scored in double figures, with Kendall Sosa chipping in 11 points off the bench.
SCOUTING REPORT - CARROLL: Carroll snapped a three-game skid in a big way Wednesday, Jan. 15, defeating CCIW preseason favorite Wheaton on the road, 73-64, to move to 6-9 overall and 2-5 in conference play.
Sierra Grubor leads the Pioneers in both scoring and rebounding with 10.9 points per game and 4.9 rebounds per contest. Theresa Wichser is Carroll's top three-point shoot, having knocked down 40-of-100 shots from beyond the arc this season.
Carroll has struggled to find its footing offensively, scoring just 65 points per game to go along with a field goal percentage of 39.5. The Pioneers have relied heavily on its defensive play, where Carroll holds opponents to 61.53 points per game and has seen the opposition shoot just 38.7 from the floor and 31.9 from three-point range.
HOT SHOTS: Illinois Wesleyan has scored 1,104 points this season, the most of any team in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Additionally, IWU's season point total is 25th nationally. Meanwhile, the Titans 73.6 points per game are second-best in the league and 47th in the country.
Illinois Wesleyan is 11-2 when scoring 60-or-more points, compared to 0-2 when held under the 60-point mark.
TITAN TRIO QUARTET: Kendall Sosa, Sydney Shanks, Riley Brovelli, and Brooke Lansford have lead the Titans' offense this season. In fact, IWU is the only team in the conference with four players ranked inside the CCIW top-16 in scoring. Sosa tops the league at 19.2 points a game, while Shanks sits eighth (13.5), Brovelli is 11th (11.9), and Lansford is 16th (10.3). IWU is also the only CCIW school with four players averaging double figures in scoring.
THE 49TH YEAR OF IWU WOMEN'S HOOPS: Illinois Wesleyan, now in its 49th year of women's basketball, has compiled a 656-471 overall record. IWU's .584 all-time win percentage includes a 300-186 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin mark.
SHARING IS CARING: A key to the Titans success through the first 15 games of the season has been their selflessness. Illinois Wesleyan has dished out 257 assists, the most in the CCIW and the 12th-most in the country. IWU's 17.1 assists per game are 22nd-best in the country.
ALL COMES DOWN TO CASHING IN: Free throws have been an indicator of the Titans' success in 2019-20. In fact, IWU is 7-0 when shooting 70 percent-or-better from the charity stripe compared to 4-4 when shooting less than 70 percent from the line. Additionally, Illinois Wesleyan is 7-1 when making 10-or-more free throws.
ON THE HORIZON: The Titans host Wheaton College Wednesday, Jan. 22, inside the Shirk Center. Tipoff between IWU and the CCIW's preseason favorite is scheduled for 7 p.m.
