BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team puts its three-game win streak on the line Saturday, Jan. 28, as the Titans travel to Augustana College. Tipoff of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin bout is scheduled for 5 p.m. and will be the front end of a double feature with the IWU men's basketball team, which takes on Augie at 7:15 p.m.
    The Green and White's record is up to 11-8 on the season and 6-4 in league play thanks to a three-game win streak. The Titans most recently rolled past North Park University, 86-52, inside the Shirk Center, Jan. 25. Coincidentally, IWU's three-game run began with a 78-69 win over Augustana, Jan. 14. The Vikings have compiled a 12-7 record (6-4 CCIW). In its last game, Augie overpowered Elmhurst University, 76-33, Jan. 25, for its sixth home win in nine tries.
    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.

CAN'T MISS: The Titans used an incredible offensive performance to claim a 34-point win over North Park, Jan. 25. In fact, IWU shot a season-best 55.2 percent from the floor (37-of-67). The Green and White's strong shooting marked its highest single-game field goal percentage since going 35-for-62 (56.5 percent) from the floor in an 81-65 win over Augustana, Jan. 19, 2019.

SHARING IS CARING: Illinois Wesleyan dished out a season-high 21 assists in its win over North Park, Jan. 25. Katelyn Heller dished out six, while Kate Palmer and Sawyer White added four each. Sharing the ball has been a key to IWU's success this season, as the Titans boast a 7-2 record when recording 13-or-more assists in a game.

AGAINST AUGIE ALL-TIME: Illinois Wesleyan and Augustana share a long history that dates back to the 1976-77 campaign. The Titans hold the upper hand in the 85-game series, 51-34. Winners of five in-a-row against Augie, IWU has come out victorious in 30 of the past 36 meetings.
    The Titans took the first meeting 78-69, Jan. 14. Katelyn Heller poured in a career-high 25 points, while adding seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Lauren Huber added a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double, as Sawyer White (12) and Caite Knutson (11) also finished in double figures.

DON'T HOLD IT AGAINST HIM: Illinois Wesleyan Athletic Director Mike Wagner, a 1992 Augie graduate, played football for the Vikings for four seasons. A Honorable Mention All-American by Dan Hansen's Football Gazette, Wagner was an All-CCIW linebacker for the Vikings. He led Augie to three NCAA Division III Playoff appearances during his playing career.

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 (19.0 ppg), while leading the league in rebounding (10.2 rpg) and field goal percentage (52.9). She also ranks 11th in assists, making her the only player in the CCIW inside the conference's top-11 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 50.7 percent (38-for-75) and has put up 15.7 points per game. She is also adding 5.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game over the last six 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 four times in the past six games, including a career-high 16 points versus Carthage, Jan. 7. White is shooting 51.4 percent (19-of-37) over the past six games and averaging 9.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.0 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 9-2 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 19 games complete, IWU has well-established several keys to victory. Illinois Wesleyan is 10-2 when scoring 60+ points, and also boasts a 8-0 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 2-6 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 702-497 overall record. IWU's .585 all-time win percentage includes a 331-199 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 469 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 head to Elmhurst, Ill. Wednesday, Feb. 1, to close out their brief two-game road stint. There, IWU will look for the season sweep of Elmhurst University. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside RA Faganel Hall.
    IWU blew by the Bluejays, 100-58, in Bloomington, Nov. 30, to kickoff CCIW play. Four players scored in double figures, while a total of 15 Titans scored points in the win. Illinois Wesleyan made a season-high 12 three-pointers in the win, shooting a season-best 41.4 percent from beyond the arc. Mallory Powers hit four triples, while Kate Palmer added three.