NAPERVILLE — Women’s hoops action across the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) during the mid-December window revealed several consistent competitive themes as teams approached the holiday break. High-level individual shooting performances and perimeter efficiency played a defining role in several non-conference outcomes, while rebounding control and interior scoring continued to separate teams in decisive victories.
 
The week also highlighted the importance of response following conference setbacks. Multiple programs rebounded quickly through disciplined defense, strong free-throw shooting and improved ball control, translating lessons from league play into immediate non-conference success.

League Unbeatens Illinois Wesleyan and Carroll Maintain National Rankings
Illinois Wesleyan and Carroll held steady in the new D3hoops.com national rankings released Monday. The Titans remained at No. 13, while Carroll continued to hold the No. 14 position.
 
Both teams climbed one position in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) rankings unveiled on Tuesday. IWU is now No. 15, while the Pios are No. 21.
 
North Central’s Daly Earns CCIW Women’s Hoops Weekly Honor
The CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week in women’s basketball is North Central’s Biz Daly following her strong performance in the Cardinals’ 79-58 conference victory over North Park last Saturday afternoon.
 
Daly, a 6-foot junior from Peoria, Ill., led NCC with 22 points in just 25 minutes, converting eight of her 11 field-goal attempts, with all of her scoring coming in the paint. The Cardinals improved to 2-1 in CCIW play with the win.
 
The junior opened the game’s scoring and accounted for six of North Central’s first seven points as the Cardinals built early separation. For the full game, she added five rebounds, two blocks and three assists, while also going 6-for-8 from the free-throw line.
 
Pioneers Poised at the Top During the Pause
Carroll remains positioned among the league’s leaders despite a scheduled break from competition. The Pioneers have not played since Dec. 6, holding steady at 7-2 overall with a perfect 2-0 record in CCIW play and a five-game winning streak.
 
Even without game action, Carroll’s statistical profile continued to reflect balance and efficiency. The Pioneers rank first in the CCIW in both field-goal percentage (.464) and assists per game (18.1), while their +12.7 scoring margin ranks second. Carroll’s assist-to-turnover ratio (1.18) also places the program 15th nationally among Division III teams.
 
Senior Natalie Gricius remains the league’s leading scorer, averaging 22.5 points per game and pacing the conference with 203 total points. Katie Barger provides stability on both ends, ranking third in assists per game (4.11) and fourth in steals per game (2.44) among CCIW players.
 
Carroll returns to action on Friday with a 7 p.m. CT matchup against WPI at the Ocean Center in Daytona, Florida.
 
Titans’ Pressure Applied at the Top
Illinois Wesleyan is 7-3 overall and continues to lead the CCIW with a 3-0 conference record. The Titans earned an 81-59 win over Elmhurst last Saturday before seeing their five-game winning streak halted in a 73-54 road loss to No. 21 Chicago on Tuesday.
 
The Titans’ defensive activity and free-throw efficiency remained consistent calling cards. Illinois Wesleyan leads the CCIW in free-throw percentage (.765), ranking 14th nationally, and also tops the league in steals per game (13.1) and turnover margin (+5.60). Against Elmhurst, the Titans converted 88 percent of their free-throw attempts.
 
Senior Ava Bardic led Illinois Wesleyan offensively in both contests, scoring 24 points against Elmhurst and 15 against Chicago. Freshman Caitlin Leyden added 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds against Chicago, while Rena Robinson recorded a career-high 14 points against Elmhurst. Asia Kobylarczyk chipped in 15 points in the conference win.
 
Illinois Wesleyan heads south for its next contest, facing No. 19 Bethel on Sunday, Dec. 28, at 11 a.m. CT in Kissimmee, Florida.
 
Elmhurst Shows Interior Response After Setback
Elmhurst’s record is 5-3 overall and a 2-1 mark in CCIW play. The Bluejays dropped an 81-59 decision at Illinois Wesleyan last weekend before responding with a 60-54 home victory over Adrian on Wednesday.
 
Ball security and rebounding helped fuel the rebound effort. Elmhurst ranks third in the CCIW in turnover margin (+5.0) and averages just 12.5 turnovers per game, a figure that ranks 12th nationally. Against Adrian, the Bluejays controlled the glass with a 43-37 rebounding advantage.
 
Junior Kristin Bukata recorded a double-double in the win over Adrian with 18 points and 10 rebounds and continues to lead the conference in assists per game (7.6). Senior Anna Kleszynski added 10 points and 15 rebounds, leading the CCIW in defensive rebounds per game (7.0), while Natalie Robinson contributed 14 points and six boards.
 
Elmhurst travels to Saint Mary’s (Ind.) on Saturday for a 2 p.m. contest in Notre Dame, Ind.
 
North Central’s Inside-Out Balance Takes Shape
North Central produced a productive week, improving to 7-3 overall and 2-1 in CCIW play with wins over North Park (79-58) and Illinois College (90-73). The Cardinals continued to show offensive balance across conference and non-conference settings.
 
North Central leads the CCIW in scoring offense (74.0 PPG) and ranks third in scoring margin (+10.4). The Cardinals’ 90-point effort against Illinois College on Wednesday marked the program’s highest scoring output since 2020. In the conference win at North Park last Saturday, NCC shot 56.1 percent from the field and held a 31-23 rebounding edge.
 
Junior center Biz Daly earned CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week honors after scoring 22 points, all in the paint, against North Park. Sophomore Ameli Sanchez tied a program single-game record with seven 3-pointers while scoring a career-high 28 points versus Illinois College. Daly also went a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw line in that contest.
 
North Central returns to the road on Friday with a 6 p.m. matchup at Rockford.
 
Wheaton’s First Conference Breakthrough
Wheaton earned its first CCIW victory of the season last Saturday, improving to 4-6 overall and 1-2 in league play with a 63-60 road win at Carthage.
 
Efficiency at the free-throw line proved decisive, as the Thunder converted 19 of 25 attempts (76.0 percent). Wheaton narrowly won the rebounding battle, 34-33, and trailed for just 25 seconds during the entire contest. The Thunder rank fourth in the CCIW in both blocked shots (2.90) and steals per game (9.8).
 
Junior Jenna Hunter led Wheaton with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Lily Caddow matched a career high with seven steals while adding 12 points and six rebounds, and senior Kate Oliver contributed 13 points, including five made free throws in the closing moments.
 
Wheaton returns to King Arena on Saturday, Jan. 3, hosting Chicago at 2 p.m.
 
Carthage’s Perimeter Firepower on Display
Carthage checks in at 5-6 overall and 0-3 in conference play after splitting a pair of close games over the previous week. The Firebirds fell 63-60 to Wheaton last Saturday before responding with a 66-63 non-conference win over St. Norbert on Tuesday.
 
Carthage leads the CCIW in blocked shots per game (4.3) and showed strong perimeter shooting against St. Norbert, connecting on 13 3-pointers while shooting 38.2 percent from beyond the arc. The Firebirds’ overall scoring margin sits at +2.27, ranking sixth in the league.
 
Senior Nora Ahram led the win over St. Norbert with 16 points, including four 3-pointers and four late free throws. Sophomore Whitney Thompson added 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from deep, while Malia Green scored a team-high 18 points in the loss to Wheaton.
 
Carthage travels to Luther on Tuesday, Dec. 30, for a 2 p.m. contest in Decorah, Iowa.
 
Augustana Controls the Glass
Augustana split its last two games, moving to 4-4 overall and 1-1 in conference play. The Vikings earned a decisive 76-37 conference win over Millikin last Saturday before falling 62-39 to Coe on Tuesday.
 
Augustana leads the CCIW in scoring defense (53.2 PPG) and also tops the league in rebounding margin (+6.0). Against Millikin, the Vikings dominated the glass with a 54-29 advantage. Free-throw struggles surfaced in the loss to Coe, where Augustana made just one attempt.
 
Sophomore Tia Lewis recorded a double-double against Millikin with 18 points and 11 rebounds while adding two blocks. Lewis ranks sixth in the CCIW in blocked shots per game (1.00). Audrey Erickson led the Vikings with 11 points and four assists against Coe.
 
Augustana returns to action Friday at 1 p.m. against No. 19 WashU in St. Louis.
 
Millikin Readies For Puerto Rico
Millikin dropped to 4-5 overall and 1-2 in conference play following a 76-37 home loss to Augustana last Saturday.
 
Freshman Kyleigh Heimsness scored six points on two made 3-pointers, while Rilee Riggs ranks third in the CCIW in blocked shots per game (1.11).
 
Millikin travels to Puerto Rico for a neutral-site matchup against Marymount on Friday at 4 p.m. CT.
 
North Park Builds Momentum on the Island
North Park is 3-7 overall and 0-2 in CCIW play, pairing a conference loss with two neutral-site victories in Hawaii over the last week. The Vikings fell 79-58 at North Central last Saturday before defeating Loras and Blackburn on consecutive days in Hilo, Hawaii.
 
The Vikings shot 50.0 percent from three-point range against Loras and dominated the paint against Blackburn, scoring 48 interior points while recording 18 steals and forcing 19 turnovers.
 
Junior Caroline Long led North Park across the stretch, scoring 21 points against North Central and recording a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds against Blackburn. Long also ranks first in the CCIW in free-throw percentage (.833). Aliyah Hershberger added 16 efficient points against Loras on 6-of-8 shooting.
 
North Park returns to the Midwest on Tuesday, Dec. 30, with a 1 p.m. road contest at Beloit.