NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The 15th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team saw three student-athletes named to the All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin teams as the league office announced its postseason awards Monday, Feb. 23. IWU's three selections tied for the most in the league.
Earning All-CCIW nods for the Titans were seniors Ava Bardic (Lincolnshire, Ill.-Stevenson) and Sawyer White (Downers Grove, Ill.-Montini Catholic), as well as freshman Caitlin Leyden (Park Ridge, Ill.-Maine South). Bardic repeated as a First Team All-CCIW selection for the third straight season, while White joined her on the first team for her second straight all-conference accolade. Both Bardic and White were unanimous first team selections. Leyden landed on the All-CCIW Second Team, becoming IWU's first freshman to reel in postseason recognition since Lauren Huber in 2022. Additionally, senior Laura Mahlum (Barrington, Ill.-Barrington) was named the Green and White's CCIW RESPECT Award recipient, while Mia Smith and staff were named Co-CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year alongside Carroll.
Bardic, a nominee for the CCIW's Most Outstanding Player award, led the Titans with 20.9 points per contest over the 16-game league slate. She shot 47.2 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from beyond the arc, while converting 81.5 of her free throw chances (66-for-81). An elite shot creator, Bardic added in 56 rebounds, 46 steals, 45 assists, and five blocks. The Lincolnshire, Ill. native ranked second in the CCIW in scoring, fifth in free throw percentage, sixth in three-point field goal percentage, sixth in three-pointers made, and eighth in field goal percentage. Her 46 steals were second-most in the conference, while her 45 assists ranked eighth. Bardic eclipsed 20 points ten times during CCIW play, including a season-high 30-point effort against Millikin, Jan. 14.
One of the most feared defensive players in the league, White reels in First Team All-CCIW status for the first time in her career after garnering a second team nod last season. White started all 16 league games at point guard, averaging 13.4 points per game. She shot 42.3 percent from the floor over and 33.7 percent from three-point distance. She made 20-of-21 free throw tries, good for a 95.2 clip. White racked up 61 steals alongside 14 blocks, both of which paced IWU, as well as 71 assists and 53 rebounds. The senior co-captain finished the CCIW slate ranked first in steals, second in assists, tied third in blocks, sixth in three-pointers made per game, seventh in three-point shooting, ninth in scoring, and 13th in field goal percentage. Additionally, White's assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.7 ranked third-best. The Downers Grove, Ill. native erupted for a career-high 37 points in a win over Carroll, Jan. 3, and notched a 17-point, 10-assist double-double in the regular season finale, Feb. 21 against Augustana.
Leyden, the first Titan in program history to be voted the conference's newcomer of the year, was exceptional in her first go-around the CCIW. Playing in all 16 games, making 15 starts, Leyden averaged 9.6 points per game alongside a team-best 6.9 rebounds per contest. She knocked down 50.0 percent of her shot attempts while ranking second on the team in blocks (13) and third in steals (42). She was the only freshman in the league slotted in the CCIW's top-25 in scoring, checking in at 22nd. Leyden was one of the elite rebounders in the league, tying for fifth, while she concluded the year tied for sixth in blocks, third in steals, and 24th in assists.
With the regular season complete, Illinois Wesleyan looks ahead to the CCIW Tournament. IWU's postseason journey begins Friday, Feb. 27, with a semifinal game at top-seeded Carroll University. The No. 2 seed Titans will learn their semifinal opponent following the conclusion of Tuesday's quarterfinal games.
Lori Kerans CCIW Most Outstanding Student-Athlete
Natalie Gricius, Carroll
CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year
Caitlin Leyden, Illinois Wesleyan
Beth Baker CCIW Co-Coaching Staffs of the Year
Carroll
Illinois Wesleyan
All-CCIW First Team
*Natalie Gricius, Carroll
Emilie Wizner, Carroll
*Malia Green, Carthage
*Kristin Bukata, Elmhurst
*
Ava Bardic, Illinois Wesleyan
*
Sawyer White, Illinois Wesleyan
Jocelyn Trotter, North Central
Kate Oliver, Wheaton
* -- Unanimous selection
All-CCIW Second Team
Cali Papez, Augustana
Julia Lokker, Carroll
Nora Ahram, Carthage
Alyssa Orozco, Carthage
Natalie Harty, Elmhurst
Caitlin Leyden, Illinois Wesleyan
Nikkel Johnson, Millikin
Aliyah Hershberger, North Park
CCIW RESPECT Award Recipients
Augustana
Katie Barger, Carroll
Whitney Thompson, Carthage
Elmhurst
Laura Mahlum, Illinois Wesleyan
Maggie Schrage, Millikin
North Central
North Park
Petra Trumbach, Wheaton
