CSC Release (PDF)

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Three members of the Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team were recognized for their combined academic and athletic success Tuesday, March 25, as the College Sports Communicators released its Academic All-District team. Seniors Lauren Huber (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard East) and Mallory Powers (Amboy, Ill.-Amboy) as well as junior Sawyer White (Downers Grove, Ill.-Montini Catholic) received CSC Academic All-District honors. 

Huber earns the award for the third straight year, while Powers and White are first-time awardees. Huber and Powers will advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot, with awardwinners scheduled to be announced April 16.

A CSC Second Team Academic All-America one year ago, Huber put together a sensational senior season. The Lombard, Ill. native was named a Women's Basketball Coaches All-America selection, D3hoops Third Team All-American, WBCA All-Star, D3hoops First Team All-Region 8, and a unanimous First Team All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin honoree. Huber broke the program's all-time scoring record, surpassing Traci Butler's mark set nearly 30 years ago, and finished second all-time on the program's rebounding list. A three-time captain, Huber was named a finalist for the Jostens Trophy and an Allstate NACDA Good Works Team nominee. She averaged a team-high 15.0 points per game and bested the team with 7.8 rebounds per contest. Huber carries a 3.69 grade point average as a biology major. Huber was twice named the CCIW Player of the Week during the season and garnered D3hoops.com Team of the Week status once.

Powers, a First Team All-CCIW selection, is one of the most versatile players to don the Green and White. She put up 10.9 points per game alongside 6.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per contest. A D3hoops All-Region Third Team pick, Powers led the team with 61 made three-pointers, was second in rebounding, and fourth with 66 assists. Majoring in kinesiology and allied health, she holds a 3.53 GPA and is set to attend graduate school for physical therapy following graduation later this spring. Tabbed CCIW Player of the Week once during the year, Powers eclipsed 1000 career points and 200 career assists in IWU's opening round NCAA Tournament game against Centre, March 7.

A menace on defense, White garnered a spot on the All-CCIW Second Team. An elementary education major with a 3.93 GPA, she led the team with 96 steals, while putting up 6.7 points per game. White's 96 thefts were 11th-most across Division III with her 3.2 per game was 20th-best. She added a team-high 80 assists, 2.7 per game, as well as 2.4 rebounds per contest. 

The Green and White put together one of the best seasons in program history, as Illinois Wesleyan posted a 28-2 overall record and a 15-1 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin mark. The Titans, who were ranked top-10 nationally consistently throughout the season, won the CCIW regular season and tournament championships. IWU made its first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 2012 after beginning its season with a 20-game win streak.

CSC will announce its Academic All-America women's basketball teams Wednesday, April 16.