BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team sent its three seniors out with a win over Wheaton College on Saturday, Feb. 12, in a convincing fashion, 81-54. The Titans move to 15-8 on the season and 12-2 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play, maintaining their spot atop the conference standings. Wheaton falls to 15-8 overall on the season and 7-7 in CCIW play.

Senior Catie Eck (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred Heart Griffin) led the way with 21 points, four rebounds, and a game-high five blocks. Junior Katelyn Heller (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard West) came off the bench for a career-high 16 points and eight rebounds. Senior Brooke Lansford (Leawood, Kan.-Blue Valley West) stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Freshman Lauren Huber (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard East) added 10 points. 

The Titans led the Thunder in several key statistical categories. The Green and White went 33-of-71 (46.5 percent) from the floor compared to Wheaton's 34.5 (19-of-55) clip. IWU had the advantage from three as well, shooting a 37.5 clip compared to the Thunder's 26.7 percent mark from deep. The Titans also had 19 assists to Wheaton's seven, and recorded eight more steals than the Thunder. Illinois Wesleyan's bench outscored Wheaton's bench 33-14. 

Illinois Wesleyan trailed in the early goings before Heller and fellow junior Kelly Carlson (Western Springs, Ill.-Lyons Township) came off the bench to spark the Titans. Heller and Carlson combined for eight points over a three and half minute span to tie the score at 12 all. 

IWU closed the opening period with a 7-0 run to take control. Lansford converted a layup and Bowen added a turnaround jumper to put Illinois Wesleyan up, 16-12, with 47 seconds left in the quarter. 

Bowen snagged a rebound off a Wheaton miss and fired ahead to Lansford who knocked down a shot from just inside half court as the buzzer sounded to give IWU a 19-12 advantage.

The Titan offense erupted for 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including five triples to blow the game open. Led by 14 first half points by Eck, the Green and White took a 42-24 advantage into halftime.

Illinois Wesleyan did not look back from there, extending its lead to as many as 30 en route to the key CCIW victory. The 27-point margin of victory is IWU's highest against Wheaton since defeating the Thunder by 37 (94-57) Jan. 19, 2010.

The Titans hit the road for their next contest as the Green and White travel to Naperville, Ill. for a mid-week match-up with North Central on Wednesday, Feb.16. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.