Dupage Policy Journal

The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) women's basketball teams are gearing up for a busy schedule, with key matchups slated for Saturday, February 15, and Wednesday, February 19. Teams will be competing in various venues as they aim to secure their positions in the upcoming CCIW Tournament.

Illinois Wesleyan is prominently featured in national rankings, holding the fourth spot in the D3hoops.com poll and fifth in the WBCA poll. The team received 536 points from D3hoops.com and 185 from coaches. NYU, Scranton, and Bowdoin currently lead both polls as the only unbeaten teams.

The newly introduced NCAA Power Index (NPI) ranks Illinois Wesleyan at number four among Division III women's basketball teams. Other CCIW teams like Carthage and Carroll also feature prominently on this list.

Carroll's Olivia Rangel is noted for her defensive prowess, ranking 20th nationally with an average of 3.32 steals per game. Meanwhile, Illinois Wesleyan's Sawyer White ranks 25th with an average of 3.18 steals per game.

In recent games around the CCIW:

- Augustana's Audrey Erickson scored consistently in double figures over five consecutive games.

- Carroll's Natalie Gricius achieved a team-best performance with 20 points against Wheaton.

- Carthage's Marianna Morrissey led her team to victory over second-ranked Illinois Wesleyan with a season-high score.

- Elmhurst's Rowan Cusack set personal records in scoring and assists during a win against Millikin.

- Megan McClure helped North Central secure a win at Carroll by scoring crucial points late in the game.

- Caroline Long of North Park achieved a career-high score despite her team's loss to North Central.

- Alyssa Faberowski from Wheaton reached a career milestone by scoring 20 points against Wheaton.

These performances highlight the competitive nature of CCIW women's basketball as teams vie for tournament spots.