BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Illinois Wesleyan University women's basketball team embarks on a 179-mile trip north for the Champions Classic hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Friday-Saturday, Nov. 13-14. The Titans will face off against weekend host, No. 25 UW-Whitewater Friday, Nov. 13, at 4 p.m. IWU will close the weekend with a 3 p.m. tipoff against Augsburg University Saturday, Nov. 14.
Illinois Wesleyan enters the weekend level at 1-1 on the season. The Titans edged 24th-ranked Ohio Wesleyan University, 50-49, before falling to fourth-ranked Hope College, 73-65, at the Michele Schoon Tournament. UW-Whitewater posted a 2-0 record at the McWilliams Tournament hosted by WashU. The Warhawks toppled Benedictine University (97-65) and then outlasted seventh-ranked WashU, 58-56. Augsburg has one game under its belt this season and is in search of its first win of the year. The Auggies dropped a home game to UW-Stout, 102-52, Nov. 7.
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Fans can catch a live stream of the game, while live stats will also be provided. Links on how to follow along can be found on the women's basketball schedule page of IWUsports.com.
The 55th year of IWU women's hoops
Illinois Wesleyan, in its 55th year of women's basketball, has compiled a 782-515 overall record. IWU's .603 all-time win percentage includes a 375-205 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin mark.
Palmer pops off
Illinois Wesleyan's win over Ohio Wesleyan featured a breakout game from Leah Palmer. The Geneva, Ill. native erupted for 26 points alongside a career-high 15 rebounds for the second double-double of her career. Palmer's scoring total and rebound total were the highest by any player across the CCIW over opening weekend. Additionally, Palmer's 26 points were the highest by a Titan in a season opener since Kendall Sosa dropped 29 at Governors State Nov. 9, 2019.
Corson settles in
Donning the Green and White for the first time, Olivia Corson came away with Michele Schoon All-Tournament honors. Corson averaged 15.0 points with 2.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game. Corson's best game of the weekend came in IWU's loss to fourth-ranked Hope, Nov. 7. The Bloomington product went for a career-high 23 points with four assists, three rebounds, two steals, and a block.
A whole lot of firsts
Opening weekend saw three Titans score the first points of their collegiate careers as Bri Harms, Averie Wolfe, and Emily Currey each hit buckets during the Michele Schoon Tournament, Nov. 6-7. Olivia Corson scored the first points of her IWU career after scoring 32 points in two seasons at McKendree.
Battling the Warhawks
Despite a victory over then No. 3 ranked UW-Whitewater two seasons ago, the Warhawks lead the all-time series 15-4. The Warhawks used a second-half surge to overcome the Titans, 60-51, at last year's Champions Classic. Martha Lipic led the Titans with 14 points and seven boards. Sawyer White (12), Ava Bardic (11), and Sara Balli (11) also hit double figures in points.
The Green and White upset the No. 3 Warhawks 84-78 in the last matchup in Whitewater, Wis. during the 2024-25 campaign. Kate Palmer and Ava Bardic each dropped 20-plus points. Bardic and Sawyer White combined for seven steals in the win. It marked the Titans' first victory over UWW since a 72-69 triumph at the Shirk Center Nov. 27, 2012, snapping an 11-game losing streak against the Warhawks.
Nice to meet you
Illinois Wesleyan and Augsburg will meet on the hardwood for the first time ever. The Auggies are just the third member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference the Titans will have faced in their 55-year history. IWU is 2-0 against the 11-member league all-time with wins against Concordia Moorhead and Bethel.
Retooled roster
The Titans lost a six-person class from the 2025-26 roster and head into this year with a new-look group led by a youthful core. IWU welcomes back 40 percent of its scoring and 62 percent of its rebounding. Caitlin Leyden, the CCIW Rookie of the Year, as well as Asia Kobylarczyk and Leah Palmer are the lone returners to average 10-plus minutes per game last season. In all, the 2026-27 roster is comprised of 18 student-athletes, 14 of which are underclassmen.
The dean of the CCIW
In her 28-year career at the helm of Illinois Wesleyan women's hoops, Mia Smith ranks second all-time in CCIW victories. With 315 wins to 102 loses in conference contests, Smith became the all-time winningest coach in CCIW history during the 2025-26 season. Millikin's Lori Kerans holds the all-time league record for wins with 556 in her 32-year career, as Smith lurks close behind with 549.
Polling place
Illinois Wesleyan garnered a 20th-place ranking in the WBCA Coaches Preseason Poll released Tuesday, Oct. 28. The Titans put up 57 points and are one of two CCIW schools included (No. 24 Carroll). The Green and White also garnered votes in the D3hoops.com Top-25.
On the horizon
Illinois Wesleyan takes a two-week long break before returning to the court following the Thanksgiving holiday for the Midwest Challenge. The 33rd rendition of the in-season tournament will see IWU take on DePauw Saturday, Nov. 28, at 2 p.m. ET. The Titans will then face either Trine or WashU Sunday, Nov. 29. A tournament that has consistently previewed NCAA Tournament-type matchups features a field in the 20th-ranked Titans, No. 7/10 WashU, No. 9/23 Trine, and a DePauw squad that is receiving votes in national polls.
