NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The fourth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team landed a program record five student-athletes on the All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin teams announced Monday afternoon, Feb. 24. The Titans' five selections led the conference and is the most since the league began awarding postseason awards following the 1986-87 campaign.

Seniors Lauren Huber (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard East) and Mallory Powers (Amboy, Ill.-Amboy) repeated as First Team All-CCIW picks, while junior Ava Bardic (Lincolnshire, Ill.-Stevenson) also reeled in first team status. Senior Kate Palmer (Geneva, Ill.-Geneva) and junior Sawyer White (Downers Grove, Ill.-Montini Catholic) garnered Second Team All-CCIW distinction. Senior Caite Knutson (Maryville, Ill.-Collinsville) was named IWU's CCIW RESPECT Award recipient for the second straight season. 

Mia Smith was voted the CCIW Beth Baker Coach of the Year for the seventh time in her career and the first since 2018. Smith guided the Titans to an outright CCIW Regular Season Championship with a 15-1 league mark, while the Green and White completed the regular season with a 24-1 record.

Huber, who broke Illinois Wesleyan career scoring record in the regular season finale, made history as the program's first four-time First Team All-CCIW honoree. Overall, she is just the fifth Titan to garner All-CCIW status four times as she joins Traci Butler, Mallory Heydorn, Molly McGraw, and Kristen Schroff.

The Lombard, Ill. native was the lone player in the conference to rank in the top-five in scoring and rebounding. She led the CCIW with 8.4 rebounds per game, finishing the regular season as the conference's top rebounder for the second time in her career, while ranking fourth with 15.6 points per game. Huber converted 50.5 percent of her shot attempts over the 16-game league schedule, ranking fourth in the league, and was also fourth in free throw percentage (86.2), tied for 16th in assists (2.1 apg), and tied 16th in steals (1.4 spg). She was twice named the CCIW Player of the Week and also earned D3hoops.com Team of the Week recognition. Huber posted four double-doubles in league play and is the only player in the conference with two games of 15+ rebounds. 

One of the most versatile players in the conference, Powers led the league in three-pointers per game (2.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8) while ranking eighth in rebounding with 5.9 caroms per contest. She finished the CCIW schedule averaging 11.1 points per game and 1.6 steals per contest. The Amboy, Ill. native posted two double-doubles and reeled in CCIW Player of the Week and D3hoops.com Team of the Week distinctions.

Bardic, a sharpshooter with an uncanny ability to create shots, earned First Team All-CCIW status one season after earning second team honors. The Lincolnshire, Ill. product averaged 13.1 points per game, second-best on the team, alongside 2.3 steals per contest. She ranked sixth in the CCIW in three-pointers per game (1.6) and three-point shooting percentage (33.3), while ranking 10th in blocks (0.5 bpg) and 12th in assists (2.4 apg). Bardic was a D3hoops.com Team of the Week selection once during the season and posted three 20-point games in league play.

Palmer claimed Second Team All-CCIW status for the second straight season. She averaged 10.2 points per game alongside 2.1 assists per contest and 1.3 steals a game. Palmer posted the first double-double of her career against North Central, Jan. 11, as she finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. 

One of the most relentless defenders in the country, White hauled in all-conference accolades for the first time in her career. The motor that makes Illinois Wesleyan's full-court press so daunting, White finished second in the league with 47 steals, averaging 2.9 swipes per game. As floor general, White dished out 2.9 assists per game, ranking ninth in the conference. She posted four-our-more steals in seven of 16 CCIW games this season. 

Illinois Wesleyan, the CCIW Regular Season Champions, will host the final two rounds of the CCIW Tournament in the Shirk Center this Friday-Saturday, Feb. 28-March 1. IWU will play in the 7:30 p.m. semifinal game Friday night, Feb. 28, with second-seeded Carroll set to play in the 5 p.m. bout.

CCIW Lori Kerans Most Outstanding Student-Athlete: Olivia Rangel, Carroll

CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year: Nikkel Johnson, Millikin

CCIW Beth Baker Coach of the Year: Mia Smith, Illinois Wesleyan

All-CCIW First Team
*Natalie Gricius, Carroll
*Olivia Rangel, Carroll
*Marianna Morrissey, Carthage
*Kristin Bukata, Elmhurst
Ava Bardic, Illinois Wesleyan
*Lauren Huber, Illinois Wesleyan
Mallory Powers, Illinois Wesleyan
Annika Richardson, Wheaton

* -- Unanimous selection

All-CCIW Second Team
Cali Papez, Augustana
Emilie Wizner, Carroll
Sierra Gibson, Elmhurst
Kate Palmer, Illinois Wesleyan
Sawyer White, Illinois Wesleyan
Nikkel Johnson, Millikin
Jocelyn Trotter, North Central
Kate Oliver, Wheaton

CCIW RESPECT Award Recipients
Emma Berg, Augustana
Katie Barger, Carroll
Emma Thistle, Carthage
MC Brown, Elmhurst
Caite Knutson, Illinois Wesleyan
Kyleigh Block, Millikin
Megan Duffy, North Central
Caroline Long, North Park
Kera Carager, Wheaton