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LUIGI LAM
ASHTIN ELDER PHOTO
88
Winner Ill. Wesleyan IWU 7-0,1-0 CCIW
57
North Park NPU 3-5,0-1 CCIW
Winner
Ill. Wesleyan IWU
7-0,1-0 CCIW
88
Final
57
North Park NPU
3-5,0-1 CCIW
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Ill. Wesleyan IWU 21 37 19 11 88
North Park NPU 12 13 15 17 57

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Thirteen Titans Score in Convincing Win at North Park

IWU runs record to 7-0

CHICAGO - A commanding halftime lead was enough as the Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team began College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play with an 88-57 win at North Park University Wednesday night, Dec. 4. IWU jumped to 7-0 on the year, 1-0 in the CCIW, while NPU dipped to 3-5 (0-1 CCIW).

Thirteen Titans scored in the game as no player logged more than 21 minutes. Seniors Mallory Powers (Amboy, Ill.-Amboy) and Lauren Huber (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard East) each finished in double-figures. Powers went for a team-high 15 points with five boards and four assists, while Huber tallied a dozen points with two boards, two helpers, and a pair of steals. Senior Caite Knutson (Maryville, Ill.-Collinsville) posted a near double-double with eight points and eight boards.

Overall, the Green and White shot 33-of-64 from the field, good for a 51.6 percent clip. The Titans knocked down 10 triples on 24 tries, while finishing 12-for-22 from the free throw line. North Park went 19-for-52 from the field (36.5 percent) and just 4-for-19 from beyond the arc. The Vikings went 15-for-22 at the stripe.

Illinois Wesleyan dominated just about every statistical category, pulling off commanding leads in points off turnovers (36-13) and bench scoring (39-16). The Green and White also finished with leads in points in the paint (42-24), fastbreak scoring (13-2), and second chance scoring (9-8).

Illinois Wesleyan took a bit to find its footing offensively, but free throws helped put the Titans up, 19-10, with under two minutes to play in the first quarter. A step-back mid-range jumper by junior Sawyer White (Downers Grove, Ill.-Montini Catholic) sent IWU into the second ten leading, 21-12.

The Titans got hot in the second quarter, as nine different players scored over the 10-minute period as the Green and White converted on 15-of-19 shots in the period, including 7-of-10 three-point tries. Powers got things going with a trail three before kicking out to the corner for a triple from White to jump IWU's lead to 27-12.

Out of an early NPU timeout, the three-balls kept falling for the visitors. Junior Martha Lipic (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) kicked out to junior Sara Balli (Bloomingdale, Ill.-Lake Park) for a triple before Balli assisted on a three by freshman Alyssa Epps (Berkeley, Ill.-Montini Catholic). 

Powers' three-pointer, her third of the day, extended the lead to 20. White swiped the ensuing inbounds and hit a quick layup before anyone in the gym knew what happened, driving IWU's lead to 41-19.

An eight-point run featured buckets by Huber, sophomore Liv Meyers (Elmwood, Ill.-Elmwood), and junior Laura Mahlum (Barrington, Ill.-Barrington) to push the lead to 30. Freshman Luigi Lam (Kowloon, Hong Kong-Wa Ying College) drilled a buzzer-beating three to finish off the strong second quarter and give IWU a 58-25 advantage.

The second half included points from junior Payton Jacob (St. Joseph, Ill.-St. Joseph Ogden) and Lipic as the Titans rolled to a CCIW-opening win.

Illinois Wesleyan closes out a five-game roadtrip with a clash with Carroll University Saturday, Dec. 7. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside Van Male Fieldhouse.
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