BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin play continues Saturday, Dec. 6, as the 13th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team clashes with the Cardinals of North Central College. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. at Gregory Arena in Naperville, Ill. and will mark the start of a doubleheader with the IWU men's basketball team.
    Both teams roll into the weekend with 1-0 standings in the league and 5-2 overall records. The Titans find themselves on a three-game win streak, most recently edging Augustana College, 74-70, on the road, Dec. 3. The Cardinals are winners of back-to-back contests. NCC used a big second half to upend Carthage College, 70-66, Dec. 3.
    A live stream and live stats of each contest will be available on the women's basketball page of iwusports.com.

LEYDEN LIFTS: Illinois Wesleyan turned Augustana over 26 times in its CCIW opener, Dec. 3, with Caitlin Leyden playing a signifcant role in IWU winning the turnover battle. Leyden racked up a career-high nine steals in the win, tied for third-most in program history. The Park Ridge, Ill. native's nine thefts are the most by a freshman in school laurels as well as the most since Sawyer White notched nine steals at Hendrix Dec. 29, 2023.
    Leyden rounded out her stat line with five points, a team-high eight rebounds, an assist, and one block.

BARDIC LEADS THE WAY: Senior Ava Bardic put up a season-high 23 points in Ilinois Wesleyan's win at Augie, Dec. 3, the highest point total by a Titan this season. She shot 6-of-12 from the floor, hitting two triples, and knocked down 9-of-12 free throws. Bardic's big game included four steals and three assists alongside a rebound.

CLASHES WITH THE CARDINALS: Saturday night's CCIW contest between the Titans and Cardinals will serve as the 88th chapter in a history that dates back 40 years. Despite North Central winning the first seven showdowns, including an 81-76 win in the initial meeting in 1979, Illinois Wesleyan leads the all-time series 57-30. Additionally, IWU is 45-11 against NCC under the direction of Mia Smith and is winners of 15 of the last 17 meetings.

THE DEAN OF THE CCIW: In her 27-year career at the helm of Illinois Wesleyan women's hoops, Mia Smith ranks second all-time in CCIW victories. With 292 wins to 95 loses in conference contests, Smith needs just four league victories to surpass Millikin's Lori Kerans and overtake the title of all-time winningest coach in CCIW history. Kerans holds the all-time record for wins with 556 in her 32-year career, as Smith lurks close behind with 527.

THE 55TH YEAR OF IWU WOMEN'S HOOPS: Illinois Wesleyan is in its 55th year of women's basketball and has compiled a 763-510 overall record. IWU's .599 all-time win percentage includes a 364-204 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin mark.

SHE'LL STILL TAKE THAT: Senior Sawyer White, who has been equally as well-known for her bench griddy celebration, was originally made famous for wreaking havoc on the defensive end throughout her Titan career. With 285 steals in her career, White needs just 11 steals to surpass current all-time steals leader Rebekah Ehresman, who accrued 296 during her outstanding career as a Titan from 2014-2018. White ranks second on the all-time steals list, ahead of Sydney Shanks (233). Her sophomore season, White set the program's single season steals record with 112 takeaways.
In the CCIW, White sits 130 steals behind Millikin's Jennifer Falbe, who had 404 takeaways in her career as a Big Blue from 1996-2000. In White's sophomore season, she set a single season steals record with 112, which ranks second all-time in a single season in league history.

POLLING PLACE: Illinois Wesleyan remains in the national polls through the first few weeks of the 2025-26 season. The Titans are 13th in the D3hoops.com Top-25 and No. 20 in the WBCA poll.
    IWU is one of two College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin team featured in both polls, as  Carroll is 16th in the D3hoops rankings and tied for 25th in the WBCA poll.

ON THE HORIZON: IWU gets an extended break for final exams before traveling to R.A. Faganel Hall for a bout with Elmhurst University. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.