NORMAL, IL - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team renewed its rivalry with Illinois State University Sunday afternoon, Oct. 29, at CEFCU Arena. The game, which was an exhibition for both teams, provided an early look at the Titans and Redbirds ahead of the 2023-24 season. IWU was defeated, 94-56. (Photo by Jimmy Naprstek/Kodiak Creative)

Kodiak Creative

Hot Three-Point Shooting Leads Titans Past Norse

Titans improve to 2-0, Bardic & Huber named to all-tournament team

11/12/2023 3:10:00 PM

Box Score

This story will be updated with official statistics when made available

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team closed out its two-game stint at the Cornell Classic Sunday, Nov. 12, with an 87-78 win over Luther College. The Titans overcame a double-digit deficit to improve to 2-0 on the season, while the Norse dipped to 0-2.

The Norse came out red-hot, going 14-for-20 from the floor, in the first period to take a 29-19 lead into the second quarter.

Quickly regrouping, the Titans rattled off a 12-0 run over the first four minutes of the second quarter to flip the script. A tough drive and bucket by junior Kate Palmer (Geneva, Ill.-Geneva) kicked off the run before sophomore Sawyer White's (Downers Grove, Ill.-Montini Catholic) steal led to a pull-up at the elbow by Palmer. Junior Mallory Powers (Amboy, Ill.-Amboy) kept things rolling with a three-pointer to pull IWU within one, 29-28, before Ava Bardic (Lincolnshire, Ill.-Stevenson) capped the run with a three from the wing. The back-to-back long balls gave IWU its first lead since the early going, 31-29.

A strong take by sophomore Laura Mahlum (Barrington, Ill.-Barrington) resulted in an and-one, where the sophomore converted the free throw, to stretch the Titan lead to double-digits, 42-32. Buckets by sophomore Sara Balli (Lake Park, Ill.-Lake Park) and White upped IWU's advantage to a dozen, 47-35, at the break.

Luther fought back in the second half, pulling back within as few as five, but Illinois Wesleyan never relinquished the lead to earn its second straight win.

The Titans return to action next weekend Friday-Saturday, Nov. 17-18, at Hope College. IWU will battle University of Puget Sound Friday, Nov. 17, at 5 p.m. ET, before playing either No. 21 Hope or John Carroll University Saturday, Nov. 18.

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