Ashtin Elder

Women’s Hoops Battles at Illinois State

Four Titans reach double figures

10/27/2024 5:41:00 PM

NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team played a hard-fought exhibition game at Illinois State University Sunday afternoon, Oct. 27, at CEFCU Arena. The Titans pulled within 10 late, but ultimately fell, 101-86 to the neighboring Division I Redbirds.

Four Titans hit double figures in scoring, led by senior Mallory Powers' (Amboy, Ill.-Amboy) 20 point showing. Powers hit six three-pointers in the game. Junior Ava Bardic (Lincolnshire, Ill.-Stevenson) and senior Lauren Huber (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard East) poured in 19 points apiece. Bardic also dished out five assists, while Huber grabbed six rebounds. Senior Kate Palmer (Geneva, Ill.-Geneva) added 13 points, while junior Sawyer White (Downers Grove, Ill.-Montini Catholic) tallied nine points, while swiping six steals.

Illinois Wesleyan's relentless full-court defense forced Illinois State into 19 turnovers, which the Green and White turned into 20 points. The Redbirds earned an advantage in the paint, where their size led to 64 points.

As a team, the Green and White shot 42.5 percent from the floor (31-of-73). The shooting performance was aided by a 13-for-32 performance from behind the arc. On the flip side, IWU limited ISU to 3-of-14 shooting from distance.

A nine-point Illinois Wesleyan run in the fourth quarter featured buckets by Huber, a deep Powers' three-ball, and a craft finish at the rim by White to pull the Titans within 11, 87-76. On the ensuing in-bounds, White ripped the ball away and promptly found Huber for a jumper to make it a 10-point game.

The Green and White continued to fight down the stretch, but ultimately could not overcome their Division I foe.

The Titans compete in one more exhibition contest in just over a week as the Green and White travels to Charleston, Ill. for a battle with Eastern Illinois University. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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