BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The second-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team finishes out a three-game homestand this Wednesday, Jan. 15, as host to Carthage College. Tipoff of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin clash is set for 7 p.m. inside the Shirk Center.
    Illinois Wesleyan enters the week with a 15-0 standing that includes a 6-0 CCIW start. The Titans most recently edged out North Central College, 80-75, Jan. 11. Carthage carries an 11-3 record into Wednesday, with a 3-2 league mark. The Firebirds, who have won 11 of their past 13 games, eyes a bounce back from a 55-52 setback at Millikin, Jan. 11.
    Fans can catch a live stream of the game, while live stats will also be provided. Matt Sosler and Brittany Carper will have the call on WESN. Links on can be found on the women's basketball schedule page of IWUsports.com.
SUPER HUBER: Lauren Huber was recognized as the CCIW Player of the Week, Jan. 13, for the seventh time in her career and the second time this season.
Huber averaged 17.0 points per game on 13-of-21 shooting (61.9 percent) to lead Illinois Wesleyan to wins over Augustana and North Central. She added 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game over the two-game stretch while going 7-for-7 at the free throw line.
FACING THE FIREBIRDS: Illinois Wesleyan and Carthage have met on the hardwood 80 times ahead of Wednesday night's CCIW clash with IWU holding a 52-28 lead in the all-time series. The Titans have won 17 straight against the Firebirds.
    Last season, IWU swept the regular season series behind a pair of high-firing offensive performances. The Green and White soared to a 97-76 win at the Shirk Center, Jan. 13, behind five double-digit scorers. Kate Palmer and Mallory Powers led with 18 points apiece. The Titans completed the sweep wit ha 93-66 victory at Carthage, Feb. 10. Six players hit double figures in the second bout, with Powers once again leading the way with 18 points.
THAT'S A FIRST: Senior Kate Palmer posted a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double, the first of her career, in IWU's win over North Central, Jan. 11. Palmer pulled in a career-high rebounds en route to the double-double, leading the Titans rebounding efforts in the process.
HOME COOKING: One of the greatest venues in NCAA Division III, the Shirk Center has been home to more than 750 Titan basketball games between the men and women. In its 30-year history, the women have won 264 of 348 of its home games, good for a .758 win percentage.
This season, IWU is 5-0 inside the friendly confines of the Shirk Center. The Titans posted an 8-3 record on their home floor during the 2023-24 campaign.
POLLING PLACE: Illinois Wesleyan held steady inside the top-five in both the D3hoops.com and WBCA Top-25 polls as of Jan. 14. IWU ranks second in the D3hoops.com poll, having earned one first-place vote, and held at third in the WBCA list announced Jan. 14. IWU's ranking in D3hoops is the program's highest since being No. 1 following the conclusion of the 2011-12 season.
SHE'LL TAKE THAT X200: The Green and White's high-motor pressure, especially in its run-and-jump, has caused opponents fits this season. Leading the effort for the Titans has been junior Sawyer White, who has become equally well-known for her thieving abilities on the court as she is for a good celebration griddy on the bench. With four steals in Illinois Wesleyan's win over No. 18 Chicago, White hit 200 steals for her career, becoming just the fifth Titan in program history to do so. Her career total currently stands at 217 as of Jan. 14. Rebekah Ehresman holds the record with 296 accrued during her career from 2014 to 2018, while Sydney Shanks is second with 233. Hope Schulte (223) and Christina Solari (216) are the only other two Titans to surpass 200 steals in their careers, with White ranking fourth all-time.
    The Downers Grove, Ill. native, who set the program's single-season steals record a season ago, is 19th across Division III with 3.40 thefts per game, while her 51 steals are ninth-most.
PERFECT 10, IN SEARCH OF MORE: With their win over No. 18 Chicago, Dec. 17, the Titans ran their record to 10-0 on the season. Now at 15-0, IWU's off to its best start since the 2009-10 campaign, when the Green and White won its first 18 contests. IWU went on to finish 28-2 overall, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division III Tournament, where its season came to an end with a heartbreaking, 77-76, loss to UW-Stevens Point.
EXPERIENCE PAYING DIVIDENDS: Through 15 games, Illinois Wesleyan has shown immense poise by way of ball security. The Titans have dished out 239 assists to 216 turnovers, good for a 1.11 assist-to-turnover ratio. IWU's mark is ranked 21st nationally, while its 14.4 turnovers per game are slotted 42nd-best and its 16.0 assists per game are 51st across Division III.
DEAN OF THE CCIW: Veteran head coach Mia Smith earned her 500th career win as Illinois Wesleyan rolled past Edgewood, 88-57, in its home opener Saturday, Nov. 23. Smith, who has accrued all of her wins at the helm of the Titans, is just the second coach in CCIW history to win at least 500 games. She carries a career record of 512-207. The current conference leader in wins among active head coaches, Smith's career win total ranks second in league laurels. Additionally, her win total is 21st-most across all of active Division III head coaches.
  Under the tutelage of Smith, IWU has won 10 CCIW Championships and made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances. The Titans won the 2012 NCAA Division III Championship following a fourth-place finish in 2011.
FEAR THE SECOND TEN LIVES ON: Illinois Wesleyan has commonly used the second quarter to distance itself from opponents. Through 15 games this year, IWU has outscored opponents 288-203, a difference of 85 points. The Titans have lost the quarter just twice over 15 games - 26-12, at Carroll, Dec. 7 and 24-9 at Trinity (Texas), Dec. 27.
THE 54TH YEAR OF IWU WOMEN'S HOOPS: Illinois Wesleyan, in its 54th year of women's basketball, has compiled a 745-506 overall record. IWU's .595 all-time win percentage includes a 353-203 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin mark.
CLIMBING THE COMMA CLUB: Senior Kate Palmer hit a free throw in overtime against Trinity (Texas) to push her career point total to 1000 through 98 career games. Palmer is just the 26th member of the exclusive club. The Geneva, Ill. native currently ranks 22nd on the program's all-time scoring list (1037 points), trailing Brooke Bailey's 20th-ranked point total of 1044.
ON THE HORIZON: After a weekend off, Illinois Wesleyan will travel to Millikin Wednesday, Jan. 22. Tipoff for the road bout is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Griswold Center.
