NAPERVILLE — The race at the top of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) continued to take shape over the past week, highlighted by dominant individual performances, nationally ranked contenders holding serve and results that reshuffled the middle of the standings. 
 
Carroll’s Natalie Gricius delivered another statement week as the league’s leading scorer, while Illinois Wesleyan remained perfect behind a career night from Ava Bardic. Elsewhere, national statistical leaders continued to emerge, North Park broke through for its first conference win and several programs positioned themselves for a pivotal stretch as the calendar turns toward the heart of the conference schedule.
 
Pioneer Standard: Gricius Sets the Pace at the Top
Carroll forward Natalie Gricius continued to establish herself as one of the league’s most consistent performers, guiding the No. 20-ranked Pioneers through an unblemished week in conference play. Gricius averaged 26.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, earning both CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week and D3hoops.com Team of the Week recognition.
 
Her week was highlighted by a 33-point, 11-rebound performance in an 82-64 victory over Millikin last Saturday. She followed with 23 points in a 78-74 road win at North Central on Wednesday. Gricius shot 65 percent from the field (19-of-29) and 73 percent at the free-throw line across the two games. She currently leads the CCIW in scoring at 22.0 points per game, ranking fifth nationally.
 
Perfect Through the Middle: Titans Roll Behind Bardic’s Breakthrough
Illinois Wesleyan remained unbeaten in conference action, improving to 6-0 in league play with two commanding victories during the week. The No. 16-ranked Titans limited North Park to 39 points in a 77-39 win last Saturday, marking the Vikings’ lowest output against IWU since 2022.
 
Senior Ava Bardic delivered a career performance on Wednesday, scoring a personal-best 30 points with five assists in a 76-48 win over Millikin. Bardic ranks second in the conference at 18.7 points per game. Freshman Caitlin Leyden also contributed consistently, leading the team in scoring against North Park and topping the Titans in rebounds and steals versus Millikin. Illinois Wesleyan leads the league in scoring margin at +10.2.
 
National Leaders Emerge: Bukata and White Set the Standard
Several CCIW student-athletes continue to appear prominently on the national statistical leaderboard. Elmhurst’s Kristin Bukata leads NCAA Division III in both total assists (121) and assists per game (8.1). She nearly recorded a triple-double on Wednesday against Carthage, finishing with 27 points, nine assists and seven rebounds while playing all 40 minutes.
 
On the defensive end, Illinois Wesleyan’s Sawyer White ranks 15th nationally in total steals (54) and leads the conference at 3.6 steals per game. White posted six steals to go along with 11 points and seven assists in the Titans’ win over North Park last Saturday.
 
Breakthrough: Vikings Claim First League Win
North Park earned its first conference victory of the season in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, rallying from an 11-point deficit to defeat Augustana 61-60. Aliyah Hershberger led the transition attack with 16 points, while Kathryn Keehn added 15 points, five assists and several key defensive plays during the comeback.
 
Caroline Long sealed the outcome at the free-throw line with eight seconds remaining. Despite the loss, Augustana’s Cali Papez continued her productive stretch, recording 18 points and 14 rebounds against North Park after posting 21 points and 14 boards versus Elmhurst last Saturday. Papez leads the league in multiple rebounding categories and ranks fourth in field-goal percentage (53.0).
 
Responding on the Road: Firebirds Answer the Rematch
Carthage earned a 73-70 road victory at Elmhurst on Wednesday, avenging a 15-point loss earlier in the month. The Firebirds built a 41-23 halftime advantage behind a strong showing from Alyssa Orozco, who finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Elmhurst trimmed the deficit late, but Carthage held firm at the free-throw line. Grace Cord contributed 15 points and converted all five of her free-throw attempts. The win improved Carthage to 2-4 in conference play.
 
Defense First: Cardinals Control the Tempo
North Central showcased its depth and defensive efficiency in a 67-55 win over Wheaton last Saturday. The Cardinals limited the Thunder to five points in the opening quarter.
 
Jocelyn Trotter and Biz Daly each finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, while Grace Kieffer added nine points and three steals. In a narrow loss at Carroll on Wednesday, Trotter posted a season-high 21 points. North Central leads the conference in scoring offense at 72.2 points per game.
 
Efficiency on Display: Bluejays Balance Inside and Out
Elmhurst earned a 64-61 win over Augustana last Saturday, overcoming a tightly contested game that featured six ties and two lead changes. The Bluejays held a 40-32 edge in points in the paint.
 
Maia Lewers and Natalie Robinson each scored 15 points, with Robinson shooting 7-of-8 from the field. Elmhurst ranks second in the conference in turnover margin (+4.3), while junior Natalie Harty leads the league in three-pointers made per game (2.87).
 
Building Momentum: Thunder Close Non-Conference Play Strong
Wheaton concluded its non-conference schedule with a 67-48 victory over Olivet on Wednesday. Junior Jenna Hunter posted a career-high 20 points while also leading the team in rebounds and assists.
 
The Thunder defense forced 30 turnovers and converted them into 32 points. Senior Kate Oliver added 19 points, including eight consecutive points in the fourth quarter to secure the win. Wheaton enters the next stretch of conference play at 2-3 in the CCIW.
 
Standings Snapshot: Positioning for the Stretch Run
Through Wednesday, Illinois Wesleyan (6-0) and Carroll (5-1) sit atop the conference standings. North Central and Elmhurst are tied for third at 4-3, followed by Augustana at 3-3.
 
Saturday’s slate (Jan. 17) features Carroll at Augustana and Carthage at Millikin, both tipping at 2 p.m., before the Titans travel to Wheaton for a 5 p.m. matchup. Looking ahead, Illinois Wesleyan visits Carthage on Wednesday, Jan. 21, in a contest scheduled for live coverage on the Marquee Sports Network.