BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The eighth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team prepares for a top-25 contest against College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin foe and 17th-ranked Millikin University on Wednesday, Jan. 17. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Shirk Center.
Illinois Wesleyan rolls into Saturday with a 14-2 overall record along with a 7-0 mark in CCIW action. The Titans most recently cruised to a 97-76 over Carthage College, Saturday Jan. 13, as the Green and White secured its 11th straight victory. Millikin carries a 13-3 overall record and 5-2 league standing, under sixth-year head coach & Illinois Wesleyan basketball alumnae Olivia Lett. MU most recently dominated North Park University at home, Saturday, Jan. 13, 100-62.
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.
CAUTION: ROUGH ROADS AHEAD: When the Titans take on No. 17 Millikin inside the Shirk Center Wednesday, Jan.17, it will mark the start of one of the toughest stretches for the Titans this season. Illinois Wesleyan will then travel to Waukesha, Wis. to battle with No. 25 Carroll Saturday, Jan. 20 before heading to Decatur, Ill. for a rematch with 17th-ranked Millikin Wednesday, Jan. 24.
The No. 8 Titans will take on three ranked opponents in-a-row for the first time since the 2018-19 season, when the then No. 12 Titans took on No. 21 Wisconsin-Whitewater, No. 13 DePauw, and No. 18 WashU in the span of five days. The Green and White dropped the first matchup against the Warhawks, before defeating the Tigers and Bears at the Midwest Challenge.
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 the men and women. In its 27-year history, the women have won 254 of 336 of its home games, good for a .756 win percentage.
MATCHIN' UP WITH MILLIKIN: Friday night's matchup will mark the 104th edition of the Illinois Wesleyan-Millikin rivalry, a series that dates back to the 1972-73 season. IWU held off MU in the initial meeting, 38-33, and won the first four games between the two conference foes. Overall, Millikin owns a 57-47 edge in the all-time series, but Illinois Wesleyan has won 13 of the past 20 meetings. Additionally, IWU is 36-22 against MU under the direction of Mia Smith.
More recently, however, Millikin accomplished a rare three-game series sweep of Illinois Wesleyan just last year and carries a three-game win streak against the Titans into Wednesday night. The Big Blue took the regular season meetings by scores of 66-57 and 82-65, before MU bounced IWU from the conference tournament in the semifinal round, 82-65.
ONE OF THE TOP TITANS: Illinois Wesleyan fans will see a familiar face leading the Big Blue in sixth-year head coach Olivia Lett when IWU and Millikin square off Wednesday, Jan.17. One of the greatest basketball players in IWU history, Lett was a three-year letterwinner for the Titans from 2009-12. The 2012 CCIW Player of the Year, Lett led Illinois Wesleyan to a NCAA Division III National Championship in 2012.
She finished her career ranked second all-time in scoring average at 15.4 ppg, tied for second in blocks (70), third in free throw percentage (.829), seventh all-time with 1,354 points, ninth in field goals made (474), and 10th in three-pointers made (135) and free throws made (271).
MARGIN OF VICTORY: The Titans, who are 7-0 in the conference, are winning their conference games by an average of 22.9 points per game. Surprisingly, that mark is only good for second in the conference. Millikin, who is 5-2 in conference play, has won their league games by an average of 23.1 points per game.
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 sixth in Division III with 68 steals on the season, while her 4.25 steals per game are also good for sixth in the nation.
In the Titan's first seven games of league play, White has improved those numbers to average 5.4 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 38 through seven 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 eighth nationally with 17.7 assists per game. The Green and White also ranks 25th in DIII with a 1.14 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Mallory Powers and Sawyer White top IWU with 53 and 52, respectively. Kate Palmer has been credited with 43 on the year, while Ava Bardic has collected 38.
The Titans have posted 20-or-more assists five times this season, most recently accomplishing the feat with 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 14.1 points per game with a field goal percentage of 64.4. The 6-foot forward has added 4.4 rebounds per contest over the nine-game stretch, with 11 assists, 10 steals, and eight blocks.
In conference play, Knutson ranks third in field goal percentage (61.4), tied for 14th in scoring (13.0 ppg), and tied for 20th in rebounding (4.3 rpg).
PUTTING UP THE POINTS: The Titans have scored a whopping 1305 points this season, the sixth-most of any Division III team. IWU is scoring 81.6 points per game, good for eighth-best in the country. The Green and White's offensive outburst has come with a 44.1 field goal percentage, the 17th-best nationally.
ANYONE'S NIGHT, ANY NIGHT: The 2023-24 season has displayed the balance of the Titans roster as IWU has seen 62 double-digit performances and ten 20-point efforts through 16 games. IWU has seen six different players lead the team in scoring this season.
THE 53rd YEAR OF IWU WOMEN'S HOOPS: Illinois Wesleyan, now in its 53rd year of women's basketball, has compiled a 721-502 overall record. IWU's .590 all-time win percentage includes a 341-201 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin mark.
A DEEPER LOOK: Through 16 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 1-2 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 13-0 when attempting more free throws and 1-2 when shooting fewer than its opponent.
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 488 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 23.31 turnovers per contest. IWU's miscues forced per game are 23rd-most in all of Division III.
POLLING STATION: The Titans are currently ranked in both the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and D3hoops.com Top-25 polls. Currently, IWU is 13th in the WBCA poll and eighth in the D3hoops.com rankings.
Illinois Wesleyan is one of three College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin programs in the national rankings, with Millikin sitting 17th in the D3hoops rankings and 18th in WBCA. Carroll is slotted 25th in the D3hoops poll, while the Pios are receiving votes in the WBCA Top-25.
ON THE HORIZON: The Titans travel to Waukesha, Wis. this weekend for another tough CCIW test as IWU will take on nationally-ranked Carroll University. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. and will serve as the front end of a doubleheader with the IWU men's basketball team.
