SAN ANTONIO, Texas – A late Titan rally forced the game into overtime and Illinois Wesleyan earned a 93-87 overtime win over Howard Payne on Saturday (Dec. 28) in the first round of the Trinity Christmas Classic in San Antonio, Texas.
In winning a game that saw 19 lead changes and 13 tie scores, Illinois Wesleyan improved to 6-4 while Howard Payne slipped to 5-3.
Senior Lexi Baltes had a "triple-double", the first in recorded IWU women's basketball history, with 14 points, 16 rebounds and a school-record 13 assists. The 16 boards tied her career game high as she had 16 at Olivet Nazarene on Dec. 4, 2012.
Howard Payne led 78-71 with 55 seconds to play but baskets by Shelby Jackson and Colleen McMahon and a 3-pointer by Baltes, the latter two following turnovers, tied the game at 78-78 with :31 to play. A late shot by the Yellow Jackets did not go in, sending the game to overtime where the Titans scored the first six points and were never headed.
IWU led 36-34 at halftime. The Titans led by five at 15-10 with 13:12 left in the half but Howard Payne rallied to build up a six point lead at 24-18 with 8:36 to play before the half.
Howard Payne outrebounded Wesleyan by a 54-53 count and the Titans forced 26 turnovers while committing 17.
Illinois Wesleyan Statistics and Leaders
Field Goal Percentage - .391 (34 of 87)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage - .360 (9 of 25)
Free Throw Percentage - .552 (16 of 29)
Jackson (24 points, 9 rebounds)
McMahon (23 points)
Baltes (14 points, 16 rebounds, 13 assists)
Howard Payne Statistics and Leaders
Field Goal Percentage - .438 (32 of 73)
3-Point Field Goal Percentage - .286 (6 of 21)
Free Throw Percentage - .708 (17 of 24)
Danyel Bradley (24 points)
Britani Gattis (19 points)
Sarah Castillo (12 points)
Yessenia Cazares (12 points)
Kalin Hanna (14 rebounds)
Who's Next?
IWU takes on host school Trinity at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 29, in the second round of the Trinity Christmas Classic. Wesleyan will open CCIW play on the Saturday following that (Jan. 4) with a 2 p.m. game at Elmhurst.