KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The No. 13 Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team came away with a 78-76 win over 19th-ranked Bethel University Sunday, Dec. 28, at the Kissimmee Civic Center. Senior Ava Bardic (Lincolnshire, Ill.-Stevenson) found classmate Sara Balli (Bloomingdale, Ill.-Lake Park) for the game-winning layup with 1.8 seconds left. The Titans jumped to 8-3 on the season, while the Royals dipped to 8-2. 

The Green and White trailed by double digits in the contest, but battled back with a strong second half to take down Bethel. IWU led by nine with less than five minutes to go, but the Royals rallied back behind a couple of three-pointers to knot the game at 74. 

Bethel grabbed a 76-74 lead to force a Titan timeout with 23 seconds. Bardic carved up the lane for a tough layup to knot the game at 76 all. Senior Sawyer White (Downers Grove, Ill.-Montini Catholic) stepped in to force a jump ball which put possession back with the Titans. The play was the catalyst for IWU's late-game heroics as Bardic threaded a pass to Balli on the backdoor for a wide open layup with 1.8 ticks on the clock.

Bethel took a timeout to advance the ball to halfcourt, but IWU's defense locked in to force a turnover and preserve the victory.

Bardic led all scorers with 21 points. The senior, who notched her _ 20-point effort of the season, added four assists, three steals, two rebounds, and two blocks in a loaded stat line. Balli posted 17 points and seven boards, while White chipped in 15 points and a team-high six assists. White recorded three steals in the contest, tying the program's career mark. She now holds a share of the top spot with Rebekah Ehresman with 296 career steals. Freshman Caitlin Leyden (Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine South) went for 12 points and 10 boards in the contest.

Also of note, redshirt freshman Leah Palmer (Geneva, Ill.-Geneva) made her Titan debut in the contest, scoring her first career points as a member of IWU. She finished with four points, three boards, a steal, and a rejection.

Illinois Wesleyan battles Wisconsin Lutheran College tomorrow, Dec. 29, at 2 p.m. ET. The only way to view or watch the game is via a subscription on BallerTV. A link is available on the women's basketball schedule page on iwusports.com.