Illinois Wesleyan - Illinois State 2025-26

Women’s Hoops Wraps Up Exhibition Slate at ISU

Official start set for Saturday, Nov. 15, at Shirk Center

10/26/2025 3:57:00 PM

NORMAL, Ill. - In its final dress rehearsal of the exhibition season, the 10th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team battled crosstown NCAA Division I Illinois State University at CEFCU Arena Sunday afternoon, Oct. 26. The Titans saw six players score in the 89-46 loss to the Redbirds.

The stalwart defense of senior Sawyer White (Downers Grove, Ill.-Montini Catholic) was the catalyst for the game's first bucket. After swiping the ball from the Redbirds, White hit fellow senior Martha Lipic (Oak Park, Ill.-Oak Park River Forest) for a basket in the paint. She freed herself from the ISU defense moments later, drilling a step-back three-pointer from the wing.

Freshman Asia Kobylarczyk (Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine South) cleared out two defenders to open up Balli for a corner triple to drive IWU ahead, 8-5. ISU rattled off the next seven points, but White found Balli for a three-ball in transition to cut the deficit to one, 12-11, at the under-five timeout.

Illinois State used a run that spanned the final four minutes of the first half and the first part of the second to break the game open, but Illinois Wesleyan got back on track late. A driving bucket from freshman Rena Robinson (San Jose, Calif.-Archbishop Mitty) started the run, which also featured a three by the rookie. White hit a free throw and later came up with a swipe at halfcourt before taking the ball around her waist and laying it up and in in a Sportscenter Top-10 worthy play.

Freshman Lucy Hynes (Homer Glen, Ill.-Lockport) highlighted the final moments for the Titans, dishing one to a cutting White for an easy lay-in. Minutes later, White returned the favor, as Hynes cashed in on a pass to the opposite block.

Illinois Wesleyan officially kicks off the 2025-26 season at home Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 15-16, as host of the Champions Classic. IWU takes on Trinity University (Texas) at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, with Millikin University and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater completing the weekend tournament participants.

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