DECATUR, Ill. – The Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team's comeback effort came up short at Millikin University Wednesday night, Feb. 12, at the Griswold Center. After trailing by as many as 11, the Titans tied the game at 71 all before a layup and pair of free throws sent IWU home with a 75-71 setback.

Illinois Wesleyan (15-7, 8-4 CCIW) went up  by four, 67-63, on a layup by sophomore Brooke Lansford (Leawood, Kan.-Blue Valley West) to force a Millikin (14-8, 7-6 CCIW) timeout with four minutes to play. The Big Blue nailed a three-pointer out of the break, sparking an 8-0 run that saw MU take control 71-69 with 1:13 on the clock.

Junior Kendall Sosa (Bloomington, Ill.-Normal Community) knocked down a pull-up jumper on the baseline to even the score at 71-all with 35 seconds remaining. Millikin responded with a layup to take a 73-71 lead with 11 seconds left to play. IWU's game-tying attempt caught the front iron and was secured by the Big Blue, who went on to close out the game with a pair of free throws for the 75-71 final.

Sosa turned in her third 30-point effort of the season, going 13-for-27 from the floor and hitting four three-pointers. She added five rebounds and three assists. Lansford added 16 points to go along with five rebounds and two assists, while senior Sydney Shanks (Bloomington, Ill.-Central Catholic) chipped in 10 points and six rebounds. Junior Riley Brovelli (Oglesby, Ill.-LaSalle Peru) grabbed a team-high seven rebounds to go along with seven points.

IWU shot 42.4 percent from the floor, went 7-for-18 from distance, and 8-for-13 at the free throw line. Millikin finished with a 52.9 clip from the floor, going 27-for-51, and 6-of-15 form three-point range. The Big Blue also converted 15-of-23 free throw attempts and held a 38-30 lead on the glass.

Illinois Wesleyan saw its six-point lead turn into an eight-point deficit in the opening period. After getting out to an 8-2 lead, the Titans were outscored 18-4 over four and a half minutes. Sosa hit a pull-up jumper on the baseline to pull IWU within six, 20-14, through 10 minutes of play.

Millikin pushed ahead by as many as 11 in the second period, before Illinois Wesleyan got back on track. Sosa capped a 12-point second quarter with a three-pointer before the half to send the Titans into the break trailing 35-31.

Illinois Wesleyan cut into Millikin's advantage in the third quarter to go into the final 10 minutes trailing by two, 59-57.

The Titans came out strong in the final stanza, taking their largest lead of the game, 67-63, before their comeback effort was thwarted, 75-71.

Illinois Wesleyan looks to get back on track Saturday, Feb. 15, when it travels to Wheaton College. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. and will serve as the first leg of a doubleheader with the IWU men's basketball team.