BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Sophomore Lauren Huber (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard East) powered the Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team past North Central College, 81-62, Saturday evening, Dec. 10, at the Shirk Center. Illinois Wesleyan pumped its record to 7-3 on the year and 2-1 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, while NCC went to 2-7 overall and 0-3 in league play.

On a day in which IWU welcomed back alumnae from the past five decades, Huber went off for 28 points and 20 rebounds on 14-for-22 shooting. With the single-game record holder in attendance, Huber tied Riley Brovelli for the program's rebound record. She also added a team-best six assists and grabbed two steals. 

Fellow sophomores Mallory Powers (Amboy, Ill.-Amboy) and Kate Palmer (Geneva, Ill.-Geneva) added 13 points apiece. Powers pulled in a season-high nine boards and added three assists, while Palmer collected four boards. Freshman Sawyer White (Downers Grove, Ill.-Montini Catholic) tallied a career-high nine points off the bench.

The Titans overcame a slow offensive start to finish 35-for-80 from the floor, for 43.8 percent. The Green and White hit 6-of-21 three-pointers, with Powers pacing the team with three. IWU held NCC to a 32.9 clip from the field (23-for-70), and limited the Cardinals to a 4-of-20 showing from beyond the arc. North Central made the most of 14 trips to the free throw line, missing just two freebies, while Illinois Wesleyan went 5-for-10.

The Titans' 51-43 rebounding lead came with 16 offensive rebounds, which led to a 19-8 edge in second chance points. The home team also owned a 44-30 lead in points in the paint and an 11-8 advantage in fast break points. IWU used 18 NCC miscues to create a 19-15 lead in points off turnovers.

The Green and White used a Powers pass to junior Caite Knutson (Maryville, Ill.-Collinsville) to take a 10-4 lead as the Cardinals struggled from the field. North Central found its stride late in the opening period to pull within two on a 6-2 run, but Illinois Wesleyan scored the quarter's final five points to hold a 17-10 edge into the second period.

A three-pointer from Palmer stretched the Titans' lead to 26-11, before the Cardinals clawed back within 10 at halftime.

Illinois Wesleyan came out firing in the third, hitting 10-of-17 shots in the period, to expand upon its lead. Three-balls from Powers, freshman Emily Galvan (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Rolling Meadows), and Palmer, along with a strong offensive spurt by White reclaimed a 15-point Titan lead into the final period.

The Green and White never looked back, expanding its lead to as many as 22 before the buzzer sounded on an 81-62 victory.

Illinois Wesleyan turns its attention to final exams before returning to action Saturday, Dec. 17, as host to Wheaton College. Tipoff of the CCIW clash is set for 2 p.m. inside the Shirk Center.