NAPERVILLE — The opening week of College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) women’s basketball play has produced a compact but clear picture at the top of the standings and in the national polls.
 
Illinois Wesleyan and Carroll both appear in the D3hoops.com and WBCA rankings, while Elmhurst has joined that pair to form a three-way tie for first place at 2-0 in the league standings. All three programs enter the weekend on multi-game win streaks, with IWU and Carroll extending their recent momentum against conference opponents and Elmhurst adding a double-digit road result in its league schedule.
 
Individually, scoring and efficiency numbers have begun to separate several players from the pack, highlighted by Millikin forward Nikkel Johnson’s back-to-back 20-point outings and double-figure rebounding averages during the conference’s opening week. 
 
Across the league, teams at both ends of the standings are leaning on distinct statistical strengths – from turnover margin and three-point defense to block totals and free-throw accuracy – to stay competitive in a schedule that already features multiple ranked matchups and narrow margin games.
 
Illinois Wesleyan, Carroll Land Back-to-Back Spots in National Rankings
Illinois Wesleyan held steady at No. 13 and Carroll picked up two spots to land at No. 14 in the new D3hoops.com national rankings released Monday. The two teams were separated by just 62 points in the poll.
 
IWU is 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the CCIW after winning both games during the opening week of league play. The Titans have won four straight since Nov. 29 and had 306 points in the D3hoops.com rankings.
 
Carroll is also riding a lengthy win streak, downing Wheaton and Carthage last week to extend their stretch to five straight wins. The Pioneers are 7-2 overall and share first place in the early-season CCIW standings with IWU and Elmhurst at 2-0. CU received 244 points Monday.
 
Both squads were also ranked in Tuesday’s Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) poll. The Titans moved up four positions to No. 16 in the coaches’ poll, while Carroll jumped three spots to No. 22.
 
Millikin's Johnson Tabbed CCIW Women’s Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week
Nikkel Johnson, a Millikin sophomore, has been tabbed CCIW Women’s Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week on Monday after posting a pair of double-digit scoring performances during the opening week of conference play.
 
The forward produced 25 points and 14 rebounds in Millikin’s road game at Elmhurst last Wednesday, followed by 21 points and nine rebounds in Saturday’s 69-58 win over North Park. She shot at least 63 percent from the field in both contests, connecting at a 65.5 percent (19-for-29) clip for the week.
 
For the two games, Johnson averaged 23.0 points and 11.5 rebounds.
 
Efficiency Carrying a Confident Carroll Climb
Carroll extended its strong start with a 7-2 overall record and a perfect 2-0 mark in conference play, using a composed road performance at Carthage to register a fifth straight victory, 72-60 last Saturday in Kenosha.
 
With league-leading marks in field-goal percentage (.464) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.18), Carroll continues to operate cleanly on the offensive end. The Pioneers also sit second in the CCIW in scoring offense (71.3 ppg) and scoring margin (+12.8), and they turned the ball over only eight times in the win at Carthage.
 
Natalie Gricius, the CCIW’s leading scorer, guided the offense with 23 points and five made threes in the win. Support followed in steady fashion: Emilie Wizner contributed 16 points, Julia Lokker added 13 and guard Katie Barger filled multiple roles with 11 points and five assists.
 
Carroll now turns toward its two-game non-conference trip to the Daytona Beach Shootout, meeting WPI on Dec. 19 and Washington and Lee on Dec. 21.
 
Pressure Setting the Tone in a Titans’ Strong Stretch
Illinois Wesleyan enters the weekend at 6-2 overall and 2-0 in CCIW play, extending its winning streak to four with a 75-66 road victory at North Central last Saturday.
 
That identity is clear statistically: IWU leads the conference in steals (14.6 per game), and its 17-steal performance in Naperville translated to a decisive 32-15 advantage in points off turnovers. The Titans paired that with steady free-throw shooting (23-for-30) in the win.
 
Senior guard Ava Bardic set the tone once more, finishing with 26 points and five steals while converting 13 of 16 free throws. Freshman forward Caitlin Leyden posted her third double-double of the year (18 points, 10 rebounds) and added six steals, while senior guard Sawyer White contributed 16 points to round out a balanced scoring trio.
 
Illinois Wesleyan continues league play on Saturday, traveling to Elmhurst for a 2 p.m. tip-off.
 
Spacing, Pace, and the Bluejays’ Statement Road Win
Elmhurst continues its early surge with a 4-2 overall record and a share of first place in the conference at 2-0. The Bluejays’ performance at Wheaton last Saturday was an 80–53 road victory and extended their win streak to two.
 
What has distinguished Elmhurst so far is its defensive pressure and its ability to convert that pressure into pace. The Bluejays lead the CCIW in turnover margin (+8.17) and three-point field-goal percentage defense (.212). Their offensive output at Wheaton – a 50.8% shooting effort with 11 threes at a 61.1% rate – aligned with those strengths.
 
Kristin Bukata continued her standout start with 29 points and eight assists, extendeding her spot atop the CCIW assist leaderboard (7.5 apg). Natalie Harty was also efficient with six threes and 22 points, while reserve guard Ella Conyers provided timely scoring with three more threes off the bench.
 
Elmhurst now prepares to host Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday at 2 p.m. at R.A. Faganel Hall in an early-season matchup of unbeaten league teams.
 
North Central’s High Scoring, High Tempo and Lessons from a Setback
North Central is 5-3 overall and 1-1 in the CCIW after last Saturday’s 75-66 home loss to Illinois Wesleyan.
 
The Cardinals lead the CCIW in scoring offense (71.38 ppg), three-point percentage (.333) and free-throw percentage (.764). Even in Saturday’s loss, the Cardinals limited IWU to 12.5% shooting from deep.
 
Guard Dolly Smith paced the offense with 16 points, adding four rebounds and four assists. Center Biz Daly delivered 11 points and nine rebounds and maintained her status as the league’s top shot blocker (1.86 bpg). Forward Jocelyn Trotter collected nine rebounds – her latest strong showing in a season that already includes four double-doubles.
 
North Central next visits North Park on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Chicago.
 
Firebirds Searching for Rhythm in the Half-Court
Carthage enters mid-December at 4-5 overall and 0-2 in CCIW play after falling at home to Carroll last Saturday, 72-60, the team’s third consecutive loss.
 
The Firebirds lead the league in blocks (4.78 per game) and three-point field goals made (7.22 per game). Their assist-to-turnover ratio (1.14) is second in the conference, and the Firebirds posted a 40-rebound night with 75% free-throw shooting last Saturday.
 
Senior Alyssa Orozco produced a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Malia Green added 13 points, seven boards and five assists during one of her strongest all-around outings of the season. Veteran guard Nora Ahram maintains the CCIW’s best individual assist-to-turnover ratio at 3.88.
 
Carthage returns home again on Saturday, hosting Wheaton in Kenosha at 2 p.m.
 
Offense Finding Its Range For Millikin
Millikin enters the coming weekend at 4-4 overall and 111 in the CCIW after notching two wins over a four-day stretch – a 69-58 road victory at North Park last Saturday and a 90-83 non-league win over Knox on Tuesday.
 
MU generated one of the league’s most notable offensive totals of the season with 28 made free throws in Tuesday’s win over Knox. The Big Blue also shot 45.8% from the floor and 40% from three that night.
 
Sophomore Nikkel Johnson continued her high-level pace by posting 21 points and nine rebounds at North Park and following it with a 35-point performance – the CCIW’s second-highest individual total this season – against Knox. Senior Hannah Ermeling added 18 points with four threes in that contest, and sophomore Nylaia Carter contributed 12 points and seven rebounds earlier in the week.
 
Millikin returns home Saturday at 2 p.m. to host Augustana.
 
Augie Holding Its Ground with Defense First
Augustana moves through the early weeks of December at 3-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play after a narrow 56-49 setback to Wisconsin–Platteville last Saturday in Rock Island.
 
Augustana enters the weekend atop the CCIW in both scoring defense (54.5 ppg allowed) and scoring margin (+14.5). Their advantage on the glass (+4.83 rebounding margin) and efficiency from the floor (.423 FG%) add to their statistical profile.
 
Audrey Erickson has remained the primary scoring outlet, adding 16 points and seven rebounds last Saturday against UWP while maintaining her place as one of the league’s top facilitators. Her 10-assist effort on Nov. 29 at Webster still stands as the CCIW single-game high. Senior Cali Papez continues to anchor the interior, ranking second in the league in blocks and contributing three more against Platteville.
 
Augustana steps back into league play on Saturday, traveling to Millikin for a Saturday afternoon matchup at 2 p.m.
 
Wheaton Working to Steady the Early Stretch
Wheaton is 3-6 overall and 0-2 in league play after an 80–53 loss to Elmhurst last Saturday.
 
Wheatons’ effort at the free-throw line last Saturday – an 88.2% showing – stood out as one of the team’s most consistent areas.
 
Senior Kate Oliver remained a central figure with 21 points and an 8-for-9 performance at the line, reinforcing her place among the league’s top scorers. Junior Petra Trumbach led the rebounding effort with seven boards, while freshman Paige Ferwerda continued her early rise as one of the CCIW’s top shot-blockers (1.11 bpg).
 
Wheaton continues CCIW action on Saturday with a road matchup at Carthage at 2 p.m.
 
Defensive Resolve Pacing North Park
North Park moves into mid-December at 1-6 overall and 0-1 in league play following a 69–58 home loss to Millikin last Saturday.
 
Their defensive profile remains notable: North Park ranks third in the conference in scoring defense (58.86 ppg allowed) and third in free-throw percentage (.721).
 
Junior guard Aliyah Hershberger delivered a career-best 24 points with four made threes in the conference opener and added contributions across the box score. Senior Kathryn Keehn continues to lead the league in free-throw percentage (.875), while junior forward Caroline Long – fourth in the CCIW in rebounding – has already collected two double-doubles.
 
North Park hosts North Central on Saturday at 2 p.m.