BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – After a 10-day layoff the Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team returns to the Shirk Center for a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin bout against North Central College Tuesday night, Feb. 23. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
Illinois Wesleyan (3-1) picked up its third straight victory, Feb. 13, with a 55-48 gritty road win at North Park. Meanwhile, North Central enters the midweek matchup with a 1-8 record. The Cardinals picked up their lone win of the season, Feb. 13, against Millikin, but have since dropped back-to-back games to Carthage, Feb. 18 and Feb. 20.
Fans can tune into the game via live stats or live stream, while Derek Bohlmann will also have the call on 88.1 FM WESN. Links on how to follow along can be found on the women's basketball schedule page of IWUsports.com.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE, AND NOT FROM TIM HORTON'S: Senior Riley Brovelli became the second Titan this season to record a double-double, accomplishing the feat in IWU's win at North Park, Feb. 13. Brovelli scored 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, both of which were season-highs, en route to the 12th double-double of her career.
Samantha Munroe previously notched a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double in IWU's win at 13th-ranked Millikin, Feb. 9.
RESUME IS GETTING AWFULLY LENGTHY: A record-breaking week earned Kendall Sosa recognition from both the CCIW and D3hoops, Feb. 15. Sosa was named College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Player of the Week for the first time this season, while she landed on the D3hoops Team of the Week for the second straight time.
Sosa, who has been selected as the CCIW's weekly awardwinner four times during her career, is the first Titan of any gender to earn multiple D3hoops Team of the Week honors.
HOME COOKING: In the 25-year history of the Shirk Center, IWU has won 234 of 309 of its games on its home court, good for a .759 win percentage.
ALL-TIME AGAINST THE CARDINALS: Tuesday's CCIW contest between the Titans and Cardinals will serve as the 88th chapter in a history that dates back 40 years. Despite North Central winning the first seven showdowns, including an 81-76 win in the initial meeting in 1979, Illinois Wesleyan leads the all-time series 49-29. Additionally, IWU is 37-10 against NCC under the direction of Mia Smith.
The Titans won the initial meeting this season, 77-52, toppling the Cardinals in Naperville, Feb. 6. Kendall Sosa led IWU with 16 points, while Brooke Lansford and Samantha Munroe tallied 12 points apiece. Illinois Wesleyan's defense contained North Central, as the Cardinals shot just 25.4 percent from the floor and 16.7 percent from three-point range.
THE 50TH YEAR OF IWU WOMEN'S HOOPS: Illinois Wesleyan, now in its 50th year of women's basketball, has compiled a 668-477 overall record. IWU's .583 all-time win percentage includes a 309-191 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin mark.
THE DEAN OF THE CCIW: The 2020-21 season marks the 23rd year under the direction of Mia Smith, the longest tenured coach in the CCIW. Smith's 435 wins are the most among active CCIW coaches by more than 150. Additionally, Smith's CCIW wins are the third-most in league history.
Under the tutelage of Smith, IWU has won eight CCIW Championships and made nine NCAA Tournament appearances. The Titans won the 2012 NCAA Division III Championship following a fourth-place finish in 2011.
ON THE HORIZON: The Titans make another trip up to the Windy City for a clash with North Park, Feb. 25, before hosting the Vikings Saturday, Feb. 27, for Senior Day. Tipoff in Chicago is scheduled for 7 p.m., while Saturday's showdown is set for 2 p.m.
