Dupage Policy Journal

Illinois Wesleyan University's women's basketball team ended its season with a loss in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division III Tournament. The team, ranked fourth, was defeated by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, which is ranked 11th, with a score of 63-43 at the Shirk Center.

Junior Ava Bardic led Illinois Wesleyan in scoring, contributing 15 points along with four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block. Senior Mallory Powers was notable for her six rebounds.

The team's shooting performance was below par, hitting only 38.6 percent from the floor and managing just two out of fifteen attempts from beyond the arc. They were more successful at free throws, converting seven out of ten. Meanwhile, UW-Oshkosh shot an even 40 percent from the field.

Illinois Wesleyan initially trailed by seven points until Powers scored their first points on free throws with over six minutes remaining in the first quarter. Bardic followed up with a drive that reduced the deficit to five points at 9-4. However, UW-Oshkosh extended their lead to 18-5 by the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Illinois Wesleyan outscored their opponents 15-13 but still faced a nine-point deficit at halftime with a score of 31-20.

Bardic started strong in the third quarter with a stepback jumper assisted by Caite Knutson. Despite this effort, UW-Oshkosh's subsequent seven-point run kept them firmly ahead.

This defeat concluded an impressive season for Illinois Wesleyan University as they achieved their highest win total since 2012 with 28 victories. They also secured both regular season and tournament championships in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin for the first time since 2018. The game marked the end of college careers for senior players Lauren Huber, Caite Knutson, Mallory Powers, and Kate Palmer.