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2023 Midwest Challenge Champions
87
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 5-2,0-0 CCIW
80
WashU WU 2-3,0-0 UAA
Winner
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
5-2,0-0 CCIW
87
Final
80
WashU WU
2-3,0-0 UAA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 OT 1 F
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 22 23 10 21 11 87
WashU WU 17 21 19 19 4 80

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Women’s Hoops Escapes in OT to Repeat as Midwest Challenge Champions

Huber surpasses 1000 career points

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Monster games from sophomore Ava Bardic (Lincolnshire, Ill.-Stevenson) and junior Mallory Powers (Amboy, Ill.-Amboy) helped the Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team claim the Midwest Challenge Championship for the second straight year Sunday evening, Nov. 26, as the Titans (5-2) survived, 87-80, in overtime against the Bears of Washington University in St. Louis at Hulbert Arena.

Bardic, who paced the Titans early before hitting key free throws late, dropped a game-high 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting. She hit five three-pointers and dished out six assists, while also tallying a block and a steal. Powers put together a stat-stuffing performance as she netted 20 points and 12 rebounds for the first double-double of her career. She also tied Bardic for the team lead with six assists and added three steals. The duo represented IWU on the all-tournament team, as Bardic was also named the weekend's MVP.

Also finishing in double-figures were Lauren Huber (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard East) and Kate Palmer (Geneva, Ill.-Geneva). Huber scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds, as she surpassed the 1000-point mark for her career. Palmer added 10 points, three steals, and a trio of assists.

Overall, the Titans used nine three-pointers to overcome the Bears' 50.0 to 42.5 advantage in field goal percentage. IWU connected on 31-of-73 shots, while WashU went 32-for-64 on the day. The Green and White converted 9-of-31 triples to a 5-of-22 effort from WashU, while the Bears won the rebounding battle, 40-39.

Illinois Wesleyan erased an early nine-point deficit, thanks in large part to a 17-4 run, before using an eight-point spurt to go ahead 53-40 in the third period. The run started with a baseline jumper from Huber and continued on back-to-back three-pointers from Bardic to give IWU a 13-point cushion with 6:15 left in the quarter.

The Bears battled back with a 17-2 run of their own to stake a 57-55 lead, the first advantage since the opening quarter, as the game went to the final stanza.

The fourth period saw back-and-forth action before WashU ran ahead, 71-66, with 3:39 on the clock. Palmer split a pair of free throws before Powers found sophomore Laura Mahlum (Barrington, Ill.-Barrington) for a layup to trim the deficit to four, 73-69. Mahlum's tough finish came with 2:18 remaining in regulation and ended a three-minute long stretch without an IWU field goal. Earning a trip to the charity stripe on the play, Mahlum's missed free throw was hauled in by Palmer, who was quickly repaid for her hustle as she drilled a three on a pass from Powers.

Sophomore Sawyer White (Downers Grove, Ill.-Montini Catholic) snatched a steal and quickly fed ahead to Mahlum for a layup, capping a quick 7-0 run for the Green and White. 

After WashU evened the score at 74-all with a free throw, Head Coach Mia Smith called a timeout with 21 seconds on the clock to set up the go-ahead bucket. A quick handoff at the top of the key left the WashU defense unbalanced, allowing Huber to drive down the left side of the lane for a layup.

The huge bucket by Huber put IWU in front 76-74, but was followed by a buzzer-beating shot by the Bears to send the game to overtime.

In OT, Illinois Wesleyan seemingly found its stride at the free throw line as the Titans cashed in on 9-of-10 free throws to escape with the 87-80 victory.

The Titans roll into College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play this week as Illinois Wesleyan hosts Elmhurst University Wednesday night, Nov. 29, inside the Shirk Center. Tipoff between IWU and EU is scheduled for 7 p.m.

 
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