BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team returns home for just the second time since the New Year this Wednesday, Jan. 25, to play host to North Park University. Tipoff of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin bout is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Shirk Center.
    Illinois Wesleyan, which looks to avenge a loss at NPU a few weeks ago, enters the midweek matchup with a 10-8 record. The Titans sit at 5-4 in the CCIW and have won their past two games. Most recently, IWU prevailed at Wheaton College, 56-54, Jan. 21. Meanwhile, North Park has a 7-11 overall record with a 3-6 league mark. The Vikings begin the calendar year with back-to-back conference wins against IWU and Elmhurst University, but have since dropped four in-a-row. North Park saw its Senior Day spoiled by North Central College, 62-55, Jan. 21.
    Fans can tune into the game via live stats or live stream of the game. Links on how to follow along can be found on the women's basketball schedule page of IWUsports.com.

TALE OF THE TAPE: Illinois Wesleyan and North Park will square off for the 77th time Wednesday evening, Jan. 25. The Titans hold a commanding 61-16 advantage in the all-time series and have won 36 of the past 39 meetings with the Vikings dating back to the 2004-05 season.
    On the road in Chicago three weeks ago, Jan. 4, the Titans were tripped up by the Vikings, 63-58. Katelyn Heller finished with 22 points to lead the Titans, while Lauren Huber put up a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double. The Green and White's shooting woes were too much to overcome in the loss, finishing the game 24-of-64 (.375) from the floor and 3-of-16 (.188) from three.

HOME COOKING: One of the greatest venues in NCAA Division III, the Shirk Center has been home to more than 600 Titan basketball games between both the men and women. In its 27-year history, the women have won 248 of 328 of its home games, good for a .755 win percentage.

SHARING IS CARING: Illinois Wesleyan dished out 17 assists in its win at Carthage, Jan. 4, its highest in a game since November. Mallory Powers and Lauren Huber tallied career-highs of seven and six, respectively. Sharing the ball has been a key to IWU's success this season, as the Titans boast a 6-2 record when recording 13-or-more assists in a game.

LAUREN BALLER HUBER: Her middle name might as well be baller, as sophomore Lauren Huber raked in her fourth CCIW Player of the Week honors of the season following a 21 point, 16 rebound performance and game-winning bucket in a two-point road win over Wheaton on Jan. 21.
For the season, Huber ranks second in the conference in scoring (18.8 ppg), while leading the league in rebounding (10.1 rpg) and field goal percentage (51.9). She also ranks tied for 10th in assists, making her the only player in the CCIW inside the conference's top-10 in scoring, rebounding, and assists.

HELLO, HELLER: Senior Katelyn Heller continued her strong start to the New Year, with a career-high 25 points in a win over Augustana, Jan. 14. It marked the third 20-point game of her career.
She had been 8-for-33 over the final four games of 2022, Dec. 10-30. Since the first game of 2023 (Jan. 4 against NPU), Heller is shooting 47.6 percent (30-for-63) and has put up 15.8 points per game. She is also adding 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.2 steals per game over the last five contests.

SOY BRINGS THE SAUCE: Freshman dual sport athlete Sawyer White has seemingly found her stride on the hardwood after taking a few weeks to find her footing following a successful soccer season. In 2023, the Downers Grove, Ill. native has finished in double figures three times in the past five games, including a career high 16 points versus Carthage on Jan. 7. White is shooting 48.3 percent (14-of-29) over the past five games and averaging 8.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2 steals per contest.

POW POW POW POW!?!: Lauren Huber reeled in her fourth CCIW Player of the Week honor of the season Monday, Jan. 22. With her selection, she becomes the first Titan to receive the award four times in a season since Olivia Lett received the honor five times in 2011-12.

CLOSING TIME: When the Titans have come out victorious, for the most part they have left little doubt. In fact, IWU is 8-2 in games decided by 11-or-more points. On the flip side, Illinois Wesleyan is 2-6 in games decided by 10 points or fewer. The Green and White has been spurned by the fourth quarter this season, outscoring its opposition just twice over the final 10 minutes this season (18-11 at Carroll & 15-14 at Wheaton). Moreover, IWU has been outscored in the final period by a combined 151-122 in its eight losses.

KEYS TO VICTORY: With 18 games complete, IWU has well-established several keys to victory. Illinois Wesleyan is 9-2 when scoring 60+ points, and also boasts a 7-0 mark when limiting opponents to no more than 59 points. Additionally, the Green and White is 9-2 when winning the turnover margin as opposed to 1-6 when finishing with more miscues than its opponent.

THE 52nd YEAR OF IWU WOMEN'S HOOPS: Illinois Wesleyan, now in its 52nd year of women's basketball, has compiled a 701-497 overall record. IWU's .585 all-time win percentage includes a 330-199 CCIW mark. The program's 700th win came at home, Jan. 14, as the Titans took down Augustana, 78-69.

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 468 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.

ON THE HORIZON: The Titans return to the road for a brief two-game stint beginning Saturday, Jan. 28, at Augustana College. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. and will see the Green and White go for the season sweep of Augie after winning the initial meeting, 78-69, Jan. 14.