BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - For the first time in 42 days, the 10th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team will return to the Shirk Center when the Titans host Carthage College in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin action Saturday, Jan. 13. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. and will serve as the front end of a doubleheader with the IWU men's basketball team.
    The day will see IWU welcome Washington Elementary School to the Shirk Center for the game, while Illinois Wesleyan athletics will also recognize longtime Pantagraph sports writer Randy Reinhardt for his incredible coverage of IWU athletics and the community sports scene over the last couple of decades. Reinhardt's recognition will take place prior to tipoff of the IWU men's basketball game, which is scheduled for 4:15 p.m.
    Illinois Wesleyan rolls into Saturday with a 13-2 overall record along with a 6-0 mark in CCIW action. The Titans most recently cruised to an 81-49 win at North Park University, Jan. 10, as the Green and White secured its 10th straight victory. Carthage carries a 10-5 overall record and 3-3 league standing, as the Firebirds have already eclipsed their win total from a season ago under first-year head coach Megan Jones. CC most recently dropped a home game to nationally-ranked Millikin University, Jan. 6, by a final tally of 78-66.
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. Matt Sosler and Emma Thorman will also have the call on WESN.

FACING THE FIREBIRDS: Illinois Wesleyan and Carthage have met on the hardwood 78 times ahead of Saturday's CCIW clash with IWU holding a 50-28 lead in the all-time series. The Titans have won 15 straight against the Firebirds.
    Illinois Wesleyan swept last season's meetings, topping Carthage in Kenosha, Wis., 79-68, Jan. 7, before nabbing a 74-53 victory at home, Feb. 18. Lauren Huber posted a double-double in the most recent meeting, going for 14 points and 11 rebounds. Sawyer White finished with a near double-double as she totaled nine points and eight boards.

RANDY REINHARDT RECOGNITION: Illinois Wesleyan has been incredibly fortunate to be part of a community with outstanding sports writers over the years. In a list that includes legends in Randy Kindred, Jim Benson, and Randy Sharer, among others, Reinhardt is the lone remaining at The Pantagraph. A near constant inside the Shirk Center during basketball season over the past few decades, Reinhardt has provided coverage to countless Titan student-athletes and some of the greatest moments in IWU athletics history during his tenure.
As our community, and many like it around the country, continue to see the support of the local sports writers dwindle, Illinois Wesleyan athletics is happy to recognize and truly thank Reinhardt for all that he does both for IWU and for the community at large.

HOME COOKING: One of the greatest venues in NCAA Division III, the Shirk Center has been home to more than 650 Titan basketball games between both the men and women. In its 27-year history, the women have won 253 of 335 of its home games, good for a .755 win percentage.

THE GRINCH WHO STOLE …THE BALL: Sawyer "The Grinch" White doesn't steal Christmas gifts, but in 15 games White has become one of the best in the country at stealing the basketball from the opposition. White ranks fifth in Division III with 67 steals on the season, while her 4.47 steals per game are good for sixth in the nation.
    In the Titan's first six games of league play, White has improved those numbers to average 6.2 steals per game. This mark leads the CCIW, while the next closest thieves are averaging just 2.7 steals per game. In fact, White is well ahead of pace of the past six CCIW steals leaders. Over the past six full CCIW seasons, the league steals leader has recorded 42, 42, 35, 31, 47, and 41 over 16-game conference schedules. White has 37 through six league games.

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 seventh nationally with 17.9 assists per game. The Green and White also ranks 19th in DIII with a 1.15 assist-to-turnover ratio.
    Mallory Powers and Sawyer White top IWU with 51 assists each. Kate Palmer has been credited with 42 on the year, while Ava Bardic has collected 36.
    The Titans have posted 20-or-more assists five times this season. Most recently, IWU dished out 22 against Augie, Jan. 7.

KNUTSON CLICKING: Currently in the midst of a breakthrough season, Caite Knutson has been a key part of IWU's success since the start of conference play. In fact, since Nov. 29, Knutson is averaging a team-best 14.6 points per game with a field goal percentage of 63.2. The 6-foot forward has added 4.8 rebounds per contest over the seven-game stretch, with nine assists, nine steals, and seven blocks.
In conference play, Knutson ranks fifth in field goal percentage (59.6), tied for 14th in scoring (13.5 ppg), and tied for 18th in rebounding (4.7 rpg).

NO SOUP FOR YOU!: Illinois Wesleyan has held opponents below 50 points 23 times since the  start of the 2012-13 campaign. Most recently, IWU limited NPU to 49 points in Chicago, Jan. 10.

PUTTING UP THE POINTS: The Titans have scored a whopping 1206 points this season, the fifth-most of any Division III team. IWU is scoring 80.5 points per game, good for eighth-best in the country. The Green and White's offensive outburst has come with a 43.4 field goal percentage, the 25th-best nationally.

ANYONE'S NIGHT, ANY NIGHT: The 2023-24 season has displayed the balance of the Titans roster as IWU has seen 57 double-digit performances and ten 20-point efforts through 15 games. IWU has seen six different players lead the team in scoring this season.

A DEEPER LOOK: Through 15 games, Illinois Wesleyan has developed some clear keys to victory. IWU, known for its frantic full court press, is 13-0 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 12-0 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 720-502 overall record. IWU's .589 all-time win percentage includes a 340-201 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin mark.

THE DEAN OF THE CCIW: The 2023-24 season marks the 26th year under the direction of Mia Smith, the longest tenured coach in the CCIW. Smith's 487 wins are the most among active CCIW coaches by more than 150 and tied for 21st-most among active Division III head coaches. 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.

TURNING OVER MORE THAN JUST THE CALENDAR: Illinois Wesleyan's defense was unrelenting in the lopsided win at Hendrix, Dec. 29. The Titans nearly forced as many turnovers as points they allowed as Hendrix finished with 39 turnovers. The 39 turnovers by the Warriors are the most Illinois Wesleyan has forced since North Park committed 39, Jan. 13, 2018, in IWU's 83-53 win.
    Illinois Wesleyan is averaging 23.87 turnovers per contest. IWU's miscues forced per game are 20th-most in all of Division III.

ON THE HORIZON: The Titans remain at home for a key CCIW clash Wednesday, Jan. 17, as IWU will take on conference preseason favorite, Millikin University, at 7 p.m.