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2022 Women's Basketball CCIW Tournament Championships
80
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 19-8,14-2 CCIW
73
Millikin MIL-U 21-6,14-2 CCIW
Winner
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
19-8,14-2 CCIW
80
Final
73
Millikin MIL-U
21-6,14-2 CCIW
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 20 12 22 26 80
Millikin MIL-U 22 18 12 21 73

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Women’s Hoops Wins 10th CCIW Tournament Championship

IWU closes game on 12-1 run

DECATUR, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team used a fourth-quarter run to close out an 80-73 win over top-seeded Millikin University in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament Championship Saturday evening, Feb. 26, at the Griswold Center in Decatur, Ill. The Titans (19-8, 14-2 CCIW) closed out the game on a 12-1 run to claim the program's 10th CCIW Tournament title and earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The Green and White rallied to the win behind several gutsy performances, including a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double by senior Kaia Bowen (Rantoul, Ill.-St. Thomas More). Freshman Lauren Huber (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard East) poured in 27 points, the most by an IWU freshman in a league championship all-time, on 8-of-12 shooting from the field and an 11-for-13 effort at the charity stripe. She also added six rebounds. Freshman Kate Palmer (Geneva, Ill.-Geneva) added 16 points, aided by four three-pointers, off the bench. 

Illinois Wesleyan went 24-for-51 from the field, good for a 47.1 clip, while Millikin went 30-for-63 from the floor (47.6 percent). The difference proved to be from three-point range and at the free throw line, where IWU hit nine triples to MU's five. At the charity stripe, the Green and White went an impressive 26-for-32 (81.3 percent), while the Big Blue converted 8-of-12 freebies.

The Titans held advantages in points off turnovers (20-10) and fast break points (23-12), with the Big Blue owning leads in second chance points (14-9), bench points (24-23), and points in the paint (34-30). With Bowen and Huber leading the way, IWU earned a 34-30 edge in the rebounding battle. 

A five-point run that included a pair of assists by senior Catie Eck (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred Heart-Griffin) pulled the Titans within two, 22-20, after the opening period. 

Huber kept the Titans rolling early in the second, pushing the Green and White ahead, 28-26, before the Big Blue closed the half on a 14-4 run to take a 40-32 advantage into the break.

Illinois Wesleyan used a 9-0 run over roughly three minutes to turn the tables. Lansford evened the score at 49 all with three minutes to go in the quarter, and Huber followed with a bucket to give IWU the lead. 

After the Titans drew a charge, Huber and Bowen sent Illinois Wesleyan to the final quarter up, 54-52. 

Millikin used back-to-back buckets to stake a 72-68 advantage with 3:24 to play, leading to an IWU timeout.

The Green and White came out of Mia Smith's regrouping session aggressive, leading to free throws by Lansford and Bowen. The senior duo converted all four to even the score at 72 all, before Palmer swiped a pass and cashed it in for a layup to give the Titans the lead for good. 

Illinois Wesleyan piled on free throws in the final minute, as the Green and White wrapped things up with a 12-1 run. 

The Titans will learn their fate Monday afternoon, Feb. 28, at 2:30 p.m. ET as the NCAA announces the full field for the upcoming tournament.

 
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