Mia Smith becomes CCIW’s all-time winningest women’s basketball coach

Illinois Wesleyan University head women's basketball coach Mia Smith has become the all-time winningest coach in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) play. Smith secured her 296th career conference win on Saturday, January 3, as the Titans defeated Carroll University 85-52 at the Shirk Center.

This victory allowed Smith to surpass Lori Kerans of Millikin, who previously held the record with 295 wins accumulated between 1986 and 2018.

Senior guard Sawyer White led Illinois Wesleyan with a standout performance, scoring a career-high 37 points on 13-of-19 shooting, including eight three-pointers. White also contributed eight steals, four assists, and three rebounds. Her scoring total was the highest by a Titan since Kendall Sosa scored 47 against Millikin during the 2020-21 season, and her eight three-pointers were the most since Mallory Heydorn's achievement against Augustana in the 2008-09 season.

Classmates Ava Bardic and Sara Balli also reached double figures in scoring for IWU. Bardic finished with 18 points after a strong second half, while Balli added 13 points. Freshman Caitlin Leyden led the team with 12 rebounds and tied for the team lead with four assists.

Illinois Wesleyan shot 47.1 percent from the field, making 32 out of 68 attempts. The Titans hit 12-of-25 from three-point range and converted nine of their eleven free throws. Carroll University was held to just under 35 percent shooting and made only one of thirteen attempts from beyond the arc. Carroll committed 27 turnovers in the game.

"Mia Smith won her 296th career College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin game Saturday, Jan. 3," according to Illinois Wesleyan University Athletics.

Smith's accomplishment marks a new milestone in CCIW women's basketball coaching history.