BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The 19th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team will take the hardwood once more before the start of the New Year with its final non-conference bout of the season Friday, Dec. 29, at Hendrix College. Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. in Conway, Ark.
Illinois Wesleyan enters the late December dual with a 10-2 overall record, while the Titans will put a seven-game win streak on the line. IWU most recently took down then-11th-ranked University of Chicago, 73-63, Dec. 16. Hendrix has seen a tumultuous start to the season and will host Illinois Wesleyan with hopes of improving upon its 2-7 record. The Warriors were most recently edged, 69-64, by the University of Dallas, Dec. 20.
A live stream along with live stats of the game will be available through links on the women's basketball schedule page of iwusports.com.
SEASON OF GIVING: On its way down to Conway, Ark. for their game against Hendrix, the Titans will make a pitstop in Memphis, Tenn. at St. Jude's Research Hospital. As a team, IWU has spent the fall raising money for St. Jude's in preparation for the trip, while Caite Knutson has taken things one step further. A student in one of Illinois Wesleyan's entrepreneurship classes, the 6-foot forward has worked with local businesses to create discount cards. While many in Knutson's class will profit off of their business efforts, Knutson plans to donate all proceeds to St. Jude's Research Hospital this week.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE: Friday's clash between the Warriors and Titans will mark the third all-time meeting. The series sits level at 1-1, with IWU earning an 84-43 win in St. Louis, Mo. Nov. 27, 2011. Illinois Wesleyan raced out to a 46-15 halftime lead and never looked back. Melissa Gardner led the Green and White with 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including a 5-for-6 effort from three-point range.
POLLING STATION: The Titans will enter the 2024 calendar year ranked in both the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and D3hoops.com Top-25 polls. Currently, IWU is 19th in the WBCA poll and 20th in the D3hoops.com rankings. Illinois Wesleyan is one of two College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin programs in the national rankings, with Millikin sitting 13th in both. Additionally, Carroll and Wheaton are receiving votes in the D3hoops.com and WBCA polls, respectively.
KNUTSON REELS IN D3HOOPS RECOGNITION: A strong performance in a key win over then-No. 11 Chicago landed Caite Knutson the D3hoops.com Team of the Week, Dec. 20.
Knutson tied a season-high 21 points on 6-of-10 shooting, Dec. 16. Carrying much of the load early, Knutson went 9-for-11 from the free throw line and added two rebounds and a steal in IWU's 73-63 win. The Maryville, Ill. native is the second Titan to be named to the national team of the week this season as Lauren Huber earned the nod last month. Overall, she is the eighth Titan to garner a spot on the D3hoops.com Team of the Week, joining Huber, Lexi Baltes, Riley Brovelli, Mallory Heydorn, Brooke Lansford, Christina Solari, and Kendall Sosa.
20/20 VISION: For the third time this season, IWU saw two Titans put up 20-point efforts in the same contest as Ava Bardic and Caite Knutson combined for 45 points in Illinois Wesleyan's win at Chicago, Dec. 16. Bardic returned to form with a 24-point showing, while Knutson tied a career-high with 21 points. Bardic and Mallory Powers previously accomplished the feat against WashU, Nov. 26, while Bardic and Knutson also posted 20-point games against UW-Whitewater, Nov. 21.
THE GRINCH WHO STOLE …THE BALL: Sawyer "The Grinch" White doesn't steal Christmas gifts, but in the Titan's first 12 games of the season, White has become one of the best in the country at stealing the basketball from the opposition. White ranks eighth in Division III with 46 steals on the season, while her 3.83 steals per game rank 11th in the nation.
In the Titan's first four games of league play, White has improved those numbers to average 6.3 steals per game. This mark leads the CCIW, while the next closest thieves are averaging just 3.0 steals per game.
SHARING IS CARING: Sharing the ball has been a signature of the Titans, as Illinois Wesleyan has been one of the best at it this season. IWU is 32nd nationally with 17.0 assists per game. The Green and White also ranks 43rd in DIII with a 1.05 assist-to-turnover ratio.
ANYONE'S NIGHT, ANY NIGHT: The 2023-24 season has displayed the balance of the Titans roster as IWU has seen 44 double-digit performances and ten 20-point efforts through 12 games. IWU has seen four different players lead the team in scoring this season.
PUTTING UP THE POINTS: The Titans have scored a whopping 935 points this season, the seventh-most of any Division III team. IWU is scoring 77.9 points per game, good for 16th-best in the country. The Green and White's offensive outburst has come with a 42.5 field goal percentage, the 57th-best nationally.
A DEEPER LOOK: Through 12 games, Illinois Wesleyan has developed some clear keys to victory this season. IWU, known for its frantic full court press, is 10-0 when winning the turnover battle versus an 0-2 record when committing more miscues than the opposition. Additionally, the Titans have fared better when getting to the free throw line more than their opponent. In fact, IWU is 9-0 when attempting more free throws and 1-2 when shooting fewer than its opponent.
THE 53rd YEAR OF IWU WOMEN'S HOOPS: Illinois Wesleyan, now in its 53rd year of women's basketball, has compiled a 717-502 overall record. IWU's .588 all-time win percentage includes a 338-201 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin mark.
ON THE HORIZON: The Titans' lengthy roadtrip rolls on after the New Year with a trek to Rock Island, Ill. as IWU returns to CCIW action Sunday, Jan. 7. Illinois Wesleyan and Augustana will tipoff at 2 p.m. in a game that will serve as the front end of a double feature with the IWU men's basketball team.
