NAPERVILLE — The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) women’s basketball race continues to feature a tight chase at the top of the standings and significant movement in the middle as programs position for the six-team postseason field. 
 
The previous week (Feb. 7 and Feb. 11) included a pair of first-place teams holding serve, an overtime result that impacted the final qualification line and several notable individual performances.
 
A Pair of 13s: Pioneers and Titans Refuse to Blink
The CCIW regular-season title race remains even between No. 15 Carroll University and No. 18 Illinois Wesleyan University, as both teams completed the previous week with 13-1 conference records. 
 
Carroll extended its winning streak to 11 games with a 75-55 win over Augustana last Saturday, followed by a 64-42 victory at North Park on Wednesday. Senior Natalie Gricius scored 31 points in the Wednesday win, while Katie Barger added 12 rebounds. Carroll’s defense limited North Park to six points in the fourth quarter and forced 26 turnovers.
 
Illinois Wesleyan also posted two double-digit wins, starting with a 77-59 Senior Day victory over Elmhurst on Saturday behind 28 points from senior Ava Bardic. The Titans followed with a 64-52 win over Carthage on Wednesday, with Bardic scoring 21 points. Illinois Wesleyan recorded 16 steals and forced 24 turnovers against Carthage. 
 
Carroll and Illinois Wesleyan have both clinched spots in the CCIW Tournament entering the final weeks of the regular season.
 
Thunderous Comeback: Wheaton’s Eight Seconds of Excellence
Wheaton produced the most dramatic finish of the week on Wednesday at King Arena, rallying past Augustana 82-72 in overtime. Down four points with eight seconds remaining in regulation, Wheaton closed regulation on a 5-1 run to force overtime. Freshman Chloe Kostka hit three three-pointers in the final 90 seconds to keep the Thunder within reach, and senior Kate Oliver made two free throws with two seconds left to tie the game at 68-68.
 
Wheaton controlled overtime, outscoring Augustana 14-4 to earn a result that pulled the Thunder into a tie with the Vikings for the final conference tournament position. Oliver finished with a season-high 24 points, nine rebounds, and a career-high eight assists. 
 
The overtime win followed Wheaton’s 64-57 victory over North Central last Saturday, extending the Thunder’s home winning streak against the Cardinals to 19 straight games. Oliver led Wheaton with 14 points and four steals in the Feb. 7 matchup.
 
Blue Heat: Johnson’s Scorching Wednesday in Naperville
Millikin split its last two games, falling 72-54 at Carthage on Saturday before earning a 64-62 road win at North Central on Wednesday. In the win at North Central, sophomore Nikkel Johnson totaled 32 points on 15-of-17 shooting and added 10 rebounds for a double-double. Her basket with 1:11 remaining in the third quarter gave Millikin a lead it maintained the rest of the way.
 
North Central was led by Jocelyn Trotter with 23 points, while Grace Kieffer added 14 points and connected on a late three-pointer that narrowed the margin to two in the final minute. Millikin improved to 3-10 in league play, while North Central moved to 7-7.
 
Senior Sensations: Firebirds Fly High on Recognition Day
Carthage continued its momentum on Saturday with a 72-54 Senior Day win over Millikin, securing its fourth straight victory. Senior Alyssa Orozco scored a career-high 29 points on 10-of-14 shooting with five three-pointers, while sophomore Delaney Elsmore added 21 points and also made five three-pointers. Malia Green contributed 11 points and led the Firebirds in rebounds (5), assists (4) and steals (4).
 
Carthage’s streak was stopped on Wednesday in a 64-52 loss to No. 18 Illinois Wesleyan. The Firebirds shot 37.5 percent from the floor and committed 24 turnovers. Carthage sits at 6-7 in conference play, remaining within the group competing for positioning inside the top six.
 
National Notoriety: Bukata and Company Climb the Charts
CCIW performers continue to rank among the NCAA Division III statistical leaders as of Thursday. Elmhurst’s Kristin Bukata leads the nation in total assists (169) and assists per game (8.0), and also ranks fourth nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.56). Bukata has recorded eight double-doubles this season.
 
Millikin’s Nikkel Johnson ranks third nationally in field goal percentage (61.3). Carroll’s Natalie Gricius ranks third in total points (507) and fifth in points per game (22.0). Within the conference, Gricius leads the CCIW in scoring, Anna Kleszynski of Elmhurst leads in rebounding (8.2 rpg), and Sawyer White of Illinois Wesleyan leads in steals (3.52 spg).
 
Looking Ahead: The Final Push for Postseason Position
The standings as of Thursday show Carroll and Illinois Wesleyan tied atop the league at 13-1, followed by Elmhurst (7-6), North Central (7-7) and Carthage (6-7). The final tournament spot remains contested, with Augustana and Wheaton tied at 5-8.
 
Saturday features several matchups with seeding and qualification implications. Wheaton travels to North Park at 2 p.m., while Elmhurst visits North Central. Carroll heads to Millikin and Augustana hosts Carthage. The 2026 CCIW Women’s Basketball Championship is scheduled to begin with quarterfinal action on Tuesday, Feb. 24.