BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The 13th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team prepares for a midweek College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin matchup with Elmhurst University on Wednesday, Feb. 7. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside R.A. Faganel Hall in Elmhurst, Ill.
Illinois Wesleyan rolls into Wednesday with a 17-4 overall record along with a 10-2 mark in CCIW action, which is good for the top spot in the conference. Before enjoying their weekend off, the Titans most recently defeated Wheaton, 78-57, last Wednesday, Jan. 31. The Bluejays are winners of four straight, playing their way into the sixth spot in the CCIW standings with an 11-11 overall record and a 5-8 mark in conference play. Elmhurst last defeated North Central on Saturday, Feb. 3 in Naperville, Ill. 60-55.
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, while Matt Sosler will have the call on 88.1 FM WESN.
BATTLING THE BLUEJAYS: Wednesday night's CCIW clash will mark the 82nd all-time meeting between Illinois Wesleyan and Elmhurst since the two first tangled during the 1981-82 campaign. The Titans own a 66-16 edge in the all-time series and have won 14 straight against Elmhurst. Additionally, IWU is 48-6 against EU under Mia Smith.
The Titans opened CCIW play back in November with a win against the Bluejays inside the Shirk Center, Nov. 29. Five Titans scored in double digits, as Sara Balli led the way with a career high 18 points.
FEAR THE SECOND TEN: The Titans have outscored their opponents 254-199 (+55) in the first 10 minutes in CCIW games this year. While this mark is on the positive side, it does not compare to the damage the Titans have done in the second period. The Green and White are outscoring CCIW foes by over twice as much, 289-173 (+116), in the second period.
THE GRINCH WHO STOLE …THE BALL: Sawyer "The Grinch" White doesn't steal Christmas gifts, but in 21 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 87 steals on the season, while her 4.14 steals per game are good for sixth in the nation.
In the Titan's first nine games of league play, White has improved those numbers to average 4.8 steals per game. This mark leads the CCIW, while the next closest thieves are averaging just 2.3 steals per game. With five regular season games remaining plus postseason, White ranks 11th on the all-time list of CCIW single-season steals leaders with 87 on the year. White is only three steals away from claiming the Illinois Wesleyan school record, currently held by Rebecca Ehresman with 90 swipes during the 2017-18 season.
#24 IN 2024: Since the turn of the new year, junior Kate Palmer has cemented herself as one of the best two-way players in the conference. Palmer has scored in double figures in seven of eight games in 2024, including a 17 point, five assist performance in the Titan's last time out. Not only can she score herself, but she is also one of the top distributors on the Titan's roster. Palmer is ranked 20th in Division III with a 2.86 assist/turnover ratio.
Even more impressive perhaps has been Palmer's defense. While the Titans are known for their run and jump full-court defense, Palmer has been a star in the half court, locking down the opposition's best scorer. Carroll's Rangel, Carthage's Morrissey, and Millikin's Knudsen, all top-5 in the CCIW in scoring, have all been held below their season points average at the hands of Palmer this season.
FEBRUARY MADNESS: With just four regular season games remaining before CCIW Tournament play begins, postseason implications loom large for both teams this Wednesday night. For Illinois Wesleyan, they control their own destiny on the way to a CCIW regular season title and home court advantage in the conference tournament. The Titans are tied atop the CCIW with Carroll, but with Carroll's regular season sweep of Millikin paired with IWU's sweep of Carroll, the Titans would ultimately win the tiebreaker if the conference tournament started today.
The top six teams in the standings make the CCIW Tournament, and, after winning four straight, Elmhurst finds themselves alone in the sixth place position, just a half a game ahead of Carthage and Wheaton. Elmhurst has three games remaining, against top-25 Illinois Wesleyan and Carroll, along with Wheaton.
POLLING STATION: The Titans are currently ranked in both the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and D3hoops.com Top-25 polls. Currently, IWU is 19th in the WBCA poll and 13th 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 14th in the D3hoops rankings and 21st in WBCA. Carroll is slotted 20th in the D3hoops poll, while the Pios are receiving votes in the WBCA Top-25.
A DEEPER LOOK: Through 21 games, Illinois Wesleyan has developed some clear keys to victory. IWU, known for its frantic full court press, is 16-0 when winning the turnover battle versus an 1-4 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 15-2 when attempting more free throws and 2-2 when shooting fewer than its opponent.
PUTTING UP THE POINTS: The Titans have scored a whopping 1708 points this season, the sixth-most of any Division III team. IWU is scoring 81.3 points per game, good for sixth-best in the country. The Green and White's offensive outburst has come with a 43.5 field goal percentage, the 22nd-best nationally.
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 25th nationally with 17.2 assists per game. The Green and White also ranks 32nd in DIII with a 1.10 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Mallory Powers and Sawyer White top IWU with 70 and 66, respectively. Kate Palmer has been credited with 60 on the year, while Ava Bardic has collected 46.
The Titans have posted 20-or-more assists six times this season, most recently accomplishing the feat with 21 against Augie, Jan. 27. White dished out five assists, while Palmer and Powers were credited with four each.
THE 53rd YEAR OF IWU WOMEN'S HOOPS: Illinois Wesleyan, now in its 53rd year of women's basketball, has compiled a 724-504 overall record. IWU's .590 all-time win percentage includes a 344-203 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 491 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.
ANYONE'S NIGHT, ANY NIGHT: The 2023-24 season has displayed the balance of the Titans roster as IWU has seen 81 double-digit performances and eleven 20-point efforts through 21 games. IWU has seen six different players lead the team in scoring this season.
ON THE HORIZON: The Titans continue their roadtrip to Kenosha, Wis. this weekend, Sat. Feb. 10. Tipoff against Carthage College is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside Tarble Arena.
