WHITEWATER, Wis. - The seventh-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team came away with a thrilling, 84-78, victory over third-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Tuesday evening, Nov. 26, at Kachel Gymnasium. The Titans upped their record to 4-0 on the year, while they handed the Warhawks (4-1) their first loss of the season.

Senior Kate Palmer (Geneva, Ill.-Geneva) and junior Ava Bardic (Lincolnshire, Ill.-Stevenson) each put up 20-point performances in the win. Palmer scored a team-high 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while Bardic totaled 20 points on a 6-of-13 effort that included three triples. Bardic was also the team leader with four steals and two blocks.

Seniors Lauren Huber (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard East) and Mallory Powers (Amboy, Ill.-Amboy) added 15 points apiece, while Huber's nine rebounds topped the team. She also led IWU with five assists, with Palmer dishing out three.

As a team, the Titans shot 46.6 percent from the floor (27-for-58) and 9-of-20 from distance (45.0 percent). IWU was an impressive 21-for-22 at the free throw line, good for a 95.5 clip. UW-Whitewater finished 29-for-58 from the field (50.0 percent), but was limited to 6-of-21 from three-point range. The Warhawks went 14-for-16 at the free throw line.

IWU corralled a 31-30 edge on the glass and won the turnover battle by a slim, 19-17, margin. Illinois Wesleyan finished with leads in points off turnovers (19-13) and second-chance scoring (13-5), while the Warhawks notched advantages in fastbreak scoring (23-3) and points in the paint (40-28).

UW-Whitewater came out with momentum, but an offensive rebound paid off by way of a Bardic three-ball to draw IWU within two, 7-5. Bardic later pulled Illinois Wesleyan within one on her second triple of the day as the Titans trailed, 15-14, at the 2:47 mark.

Out of the media timeout, the Green and White's daunting run-and-jump press forced a UWW miscue. Following the ensuing inbounds, Palmer knocked down a floater to give the Titans their first lead of the day, 16-15. 

The Titans turned to some fresh legs in the closing minutes of the first period as freshman Luigi Lam (Kowloon, Hong Kong-Wa Ying College) and juniors Sara Balli (Bloomingdale, Ill.-Lake Park) and Laura Mahlum (Barrington, Ill.-Barrington) entered the game. With Lam running point, the freshman floor general sent the ball inside to Mahlum as Balli quickly relocated on the wing. Splitting pressure, Mahlum kicked it back out for a Balli three-ball to give IWU a 19-17 edge after 10 minutes.

A crafty pass from junior Sawyer White (Downers Grove, Ill.-Montini Catholic) resulted in a three-pointer by Powers to drive IWU ahead by five, 24-19, but an and-one by the Warhawks trimmed the Titan lead to two, 24-22, with 8:35 left in the half.

After a strong defensive play by Huber, Bardic drilled a wing three-ball to give IWU a 29-25 lead into a timeout with 7:22 on the clock.

Buckets by Powers, Palmer, White, and a free throw from senior Caite Knutson (Maryville, Ill.-Collinsville) sent the Green and White into the break with a 46-40 advantage.

Illinois Wesleyan stretched its lead to double digits in the third, as tough buckets by Huber and Palmer propelled the visitor's ahead, 52-40. The strong start forced a UWW timeout with 6:30 to go in the quarter.

The reset proved key for the Warhawks as a last-second three-pointer cut IWU's lead to five, 56-51, heading into the final quarter.

The Warhawks reclaimed the lead, 60-59, with 7:24 left in regulation, but the Titans were up for the challenge. Powers knocked down a three-pointer from the corner to knot the score, 66-66, before Bardic converted three free throws to drive IWU ahead, 69-68, with just under five to play.

The Green and White used a combination of timely buckets with a 16-for-16 showing from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter to down the Warhawks. A tough take by Powers on the heels of free throws by Knutson gave IWU a five-point cushion, 80-75, with 1:03 remaining.

IWU closed out the game at the free throw line as Huber and Palmer knocked down freebies to lift the Titans to an 84-78 triumph.

Illinois Wesleyan travels to St. Louis, Mo., this weekend, Nov. 30-Dec. 1, for the annual Midwest Challenge. This year's tournament will be hosted by Washington University in St. Louis and will see the Titans take on the Tigers of DePauw University Saturday, Nov. 30, at 4 p.m.