BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - For the third time in program history, and first as a member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW), the Carroll University women's basketball team has advanced to the NCAA Division-III Tournament. The 19th-ranked Pioneers earned an automatic bid to next week's national tourney by defeating 12th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan 88-78 Saturday afternoon in the CCIW Tournament Championship Game. The Pios also become the first team in Carroll University history to win both the CCIW regular season and Tournament in the same season, while winning their 23rd game of the season, which breaks the program's record for single season victories.

The final result was never in serious doubt Saturday afternoon, as Carroll (23-4) led for all but the first minute of the game. The Pioneers dominated the paint all afternoon, outscoring the Titans (22-5) in the lane by a 54-24 margin, while also out-rebounding IWU 46-34. Carroll torched the nets for the full 40 minutes to the tune of 55 percent (34-62), including 44 percent (4-9) from 3-point range. Illinois Wesleyan on the other hand converted 40 percent (30-75) of their shots and 20 percent (6-30) of their 3-pointers.

Despite their rough day behind the arc, the Titans wasted no time getting on the board, as Lauren Huber sank a 3-pointer just eight seconds into the contest on the game's opening possession. As they have done all season long, the Pioneers refused to be intimidated, scoring the game's next seven points, five of which came from Natalie Gricius, to set the tone for the remainder of the afternoon. Illinois Wesleyan tied the game at 13 on a jumper by Kate Palmer with three and a half minutes left in the opening quarter, but that's as close as they would get to a lead the rest of the day. Carroll ended the first period on an 8-2 run to take a six point advantage into the second. That quarter saw Carroll lead by as many as 12 when Olivia Rangel connected on a jumper with less than one minute remaining in the half.

Leading 46-36 at halftime, the Pioneers continued to press on the gas, leading by as many as 22 when Rangel hit another jumper in the final minute to take a 72-50 advantage. The final frame saw Illinois Wesleyan go on a 13-2 run in the first five minutes to cut that lead to nine, as the Titans clawed their way back into the game. IWU would cut the deficit to eight points with one minute to play, but the Pioneers converted six of eight free throws in the final minute to put the game away and seal the Championship.

Natalie Gricius turned in a performance to remember for Carroll, shattering her career-high with 31 points on 12-of-20 shooting, to go along with seven rebounds. Rangel added a double-double of 24 points and 12 boards, while also adding a game-high seven assists and three steals. Emilie Wizner added 12 points, while Lauren Soyke also played a key role with several clutch buckets, finishing with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting, to go along with six rebounds, and three assists.

Illinois Wesleyan was led by Lauren Huber's 22 points and nine rebounds, while Palmer added 20 points, five boards, and six dimes. Ava Bardic and Mallory Powers also chipped in with 15 and 11 points, respectively.

The Pioneers will now play the waiting game, as they will find out who, when, and where they'll play in the First Round of the NCAA Division-III Tournament with the annual selection show at 1:30 p.m., which can be seen live at https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-women/article/2024-02-19/2024-diii-womens-basketball-championship-how-watch-selection-show-bracket.