BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Days removed from taking on the reigning NCAA Division III National Champion, the Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team will travel to the Badger state to take on NCAA Division III 2022 runner-up, University of Wisconin-Whitewater. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday night, Nov. 16, at Kachel Gymnasium inside the Williams Center on UWW's campus.
    Illinois Wesleyan makes the 180-mile trek with a 1-1 overall record after splitting a pair of games at the Hope Tipoff Tournament, Nov. 11-12. After clobbering Concordia University-Wisconsin, 86-38, IWU fell to Hope College, 99-73. Meanwhile, UW-Whitewater starts the year with a three-game College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin streak. The Warhawks are 2-0 on the season with wins against Carroll University (56-52) and Millikin University (79-69) over opening weekend.
Fans can follow via live stats and a live stream. Links can be found on the women's basketball schedule page at iwusports.com.

HALFTIME ADJUSTMENTS: Through two games, IWU Head Coach Mia Smith's halftime adjustments appear to paying dividends as the Titans have dominated the third quarter. In fact, IWU is outscoring opponents 62-34 in the third period. The Green and White are shooting 61.1 percent (22-of-36) from the field and 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from three-point range, all the while turning the ball over just three times. Meanwhile, IWU's opponents are converting 39.3 percent (13-of-33) of their shots and 4-of-12 three-point tries. Additionally, opponents have turned the ball of 10 times in the third quarter.

ALL-TIME AGAINST UW-WHITEWATER: Illinois Wesleyan and UW-Whitewater will square off on the hardwood for the 16th time since the series began in 1997 when the two teams tangle Wednesday evening, Nov. 16. The Warhawks hold a commanding 12-3 lead in the all-time series, and have won nine straight against the Titans dating back to 2013. IWU came out on top in two of the first three matchups, including a 90-53 walloping of UWW in the initial clash, Dec. 14, 1997.

A CLOSER LOOK A THE LAST MEETING: The Titans and Warhawks will battle Wednesday for the first time since meeting in the second round of last season's NCAA Division III Tournament. UWW advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, and eventually the title game, with a 72-54 win over IWU. Kate Palmer led the Titans with 17 points off the bench, while Catie Eck, Brooke Lansford, and Kaia Bowen added seven points apiece.

LAST WIN OVER UWW: The Green and White's last win came in nail-biting fashion during the 2011-12 season, as the Titans took down the Warhawks 72-69 inside the Shirk Center Nov. 27, 2012. Illinois Wesleyan trailed by five, 35-30, at halftime, but used a strong second half to clip UW-Whitewater, 72-69. Melissa Gardner led the Titans with 19 points, while Lexi Baltes and Colleen McMahon added 18 and 17, respectively.
    The Titans hit 9-of-10 free throws and Michelle Bilek knocked down a triple over the final two and a half minutes to propel IWU to the three-point win. The Warhawks had a chance for the tie at the buzzer, but could not convert as Shelby Jackson snagged the rebound to seal the win.

LOCK DOWN: The Titans opened the 2022-23 campaign with a dominant defensive performance as Illinois Wesleyan cruised past Concordia-Wisconsin, 86-38, Nov. 11. Illinois Wesleyan's 38 points allowed in the season-opening win were the fewest by a Titan opponent in a lidlifter since the 1980-81 season IWU toppled Principia, 70-37. Additionally, it marked the 17th time since 1977-78 that IWU has held an opponent below 40 points.

IWU IN SEASON OPENERS: Illinois Wesleyan holds a 26-25-1 record in season openers all-time, highlighted by a 14-11 mark under head coach Mia Smith. Most recently, the Titans took down Concordia-Wisconsin, 86-38, Nov. 11. Additionally, IWU has won six of its past nine season openers dating back to the 2013-14 campaign.

THE 52nd YEAR OF IWU WOMEN'S HOOPS: Illinois Wesleyan, now in its 52nd year of women's basketball, has compiled a 692-490 overall record. IWU's .585 all-time win percentage includes a 325-195 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin mark.

THE DEAN OF THE CCIW: The 2022-23 season marks the 25th year under the direction of Mia Smith, the longest tenured coach in the CCIW. Smith's 459 wins are the most among active CCIW coaches by more than 150. Additionally, Smith's CCIW wins are the second-most in league history.
    Under the tutelage of Smith, IWU has won 10 CCIW Championships and made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances. The Titans won the 2012 NCAA Division III Championship following a fourth-place finish in 2011.

HOME GROWN: With the loss of Leawood, Kan. native Brooke Lansford to graduation, the Titans boast a fully-Illinois bred roster for the first time since 2017-18. This is just the third time since 2012-13 IWU has had a roster without any out-of-state players.

ON THE HORIZON: With Illinois Wesleyan's three-game season-opening roadtrip in the rearview mirror, the Titans will welcome Capital University to the Shirk Center for a non-conference bout Saturday, Nov. 19. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.