The Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team could not overcome a sloppy second half in a 70-61 loss at fourth-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitwater Wednesday night, Nov. 16. The Titans (1-2) led by as many as 15 in the first half, but the Warhawks (3-0) outscored IWU 39-23 over the final two quarters to thwart the upset bid.
Senior Katelyn Heller (Glen Ellyn, Ill.-Glenbard West) led the Titans with a career-high 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting, while also adding six rebounds and four assists. Sophomore Kate Palmer (Geneva, Ill.-Geneva) and Lauren Huber (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard East) added 15 and 11 points, respectively. Palmer drilled three triples, while hauling in a career-high seven rebounds. Huber corralled a team-best eight rebounds in the game.
Illinois Wesleyan finished 24-for-54 from the field, good for a 44.4 clip, but hit just 4-of-14 shots (28.6 percent) in the fourth quarter. The Titans connected on 4-of-12 three-point tries and 9-of-12 free throw attempts. On the flip side, UWW overcame a 3-of-18 showing from the floor in the opening period to finish with a field goal percentage of 41.9 (26-for-62). The Warhawks knocked down just 3-of-17 three-point attempts, but went 15-of-16 at the charity stripe.
UW-Whitewater won the turnover battle, 25-16, which resulted in a 22-16 edge in points off turnovers. UWW also benefited from a 27-10 advantage in bench points, while both teams finished with 34 points in the paint. IWU claimed a slim 9-6 edge in fastbreak points.
A steal and score by Heller on a Warhawk inbounds play saw the senior score the game's first points nearly two minutes in. The transition bucket was followed by a outback by Huber and a fastbreak layup by Knutson after a solid defensive play by senior Kelly Carlson (Western Springs, Ill.-Lyons Township), putting Illinois Wesleyan in front, 6-0.
The Titans advantage would stretch to double digits on a strong drive by Heller with four minutes to play in the opening period. Freshman Laura Mahlum (Barrington, Ill.-Barrington) then drilled a triple to bump the IWU lead to 13.
Heller had her way with the UWW defense in the first quarter, scoring 12 of her 20 points in the period, as IWU carried a 21-8 advantage into the second.
Illinois Wesleyan maintained its double-digit lead for much of the quarter before Wisconsin-Whitewater rattled off a 7-0 run. The Warhawks' seven unanswered points came over the final 3:19 of the quarter, trimming the Titans' lead to seven, 38-31, at the break.
UWW's strong close to the first half carried over to the second, as the Warhawks took its first lead of the game, 48-46, late in the third quarter. An 18-4 run moved the Warhawks ahead by seven, 57-50, with eight minutes left in the game.
Three-pointers by Palmer kept the Titans within striking distance, but turnovers and fouls piled up to keep Illinois Wesleyan from reclaiming the lead.
The Titans will return to the Shirk Center for the first time in 280 days Saturday, Nov. 19, as IWU hosts Capital University in a non-conference bout. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. and will mark the Green and White's lone home game of the non-conference season.
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