NAPERVILLE — Milestones and defensive stretches shaped the past week of women’s basketball in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW). At the top of the standings, the leading teams continued to hold position, while several individuals added national and program benchmarks. 
 
With the regular season moving deeper into February, results are increasingly tied to positioning for the conference tournament and the race for the top six seeds.
 
Bukata’s Buffet: Assisting the Nation One Dime at a Time
Kristin Bukata continues to lead NCAA Division III in both total assists (165) and assists per game (8.3). Over two games last week, the Elmhurst junior averaged 20.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists and earned her fourth CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week honor this season.
 
In a 72-63 win over Millikin last Saturday, Bukata played all 40 minutes and finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. She followed that with another 40-minute effort on Wednesday against Carroll, leading the Bluejays with 17 points and five assists. She ranks third nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.70) while leading the CCIW in minutes per game (38.3).
 
Gricius Records Milestones as Carroll Maintains Pace
Natalie Gricius continued her national-level production as Carroll remained at the top of the standings. Gricius ranks third nationally in total points (458) and fifth in points per game (21.8). In Carroll’s 63-50 win over Elmhurst on Wednesday, she recorded 27 points and 11 rebounds, including seven offensive rebounds, and reached two career milestones in the same game: 1,500 points and 500 rebounds. She is the third player in program history to reach both marks.
 
Earlier in the week, Gricius scored 22 points in an 81-56 win over Wheaton last Saturday. She ranks 12th nationally in field goal percentage (58.2), and Carroll’s offense has reflected that efficiency throughout the season, entering the week fourth nationally in team field goal percentage (45.6%).
 
Titans of Terror: Illinois Wesleyan’s Defensive Masterclass
Illinois Wesleyan matched a program record for fewest points allowed in a game in a 71-32 road win at North Park on Wednesday. IWU held North Park to three points in the third quarter and forced 36 turnovers, the program’s highest total since 2023.
 
Ava Bardic led the Titans with 19 points. Sawyer White added six steals and remains 12th nationally in total steals (74). On the season, Illinois Wesleyan ranks 26th nationally in steals per game (13.5) and 21st in turnover margin (+7.3). The result kept the Titans in a tie for first place in the conference, maintaining an 11-1 league record.
 
Palmer’s Power: The Redshirt Freshman’s National Emergence
Illinois Wesleyan freshman Leah Palmer received national recognition after an efficient two-game week and was named to the D3hoops.com National Team of the Week. Her most productive outing came Saturday against North Central when she scored a career-high 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting in an 80-71 win. Illinois Wesleyan erased a 15-point deficit in that game.
 
Palmer added six rebounds and three steals against North Central, and the Titans outscored the Cardinals 27-20 in the fourth quarter. Across the two contests, Palmer shot 75 percent from the field.
 
Redemption in Naperville: Cardinals Feed off the Flock
North Central returned to the win column on Wednesday with a 68-55 home win over Augustana. Kaitlin Park scored a career-high 14 points and went 2-for-2 from three-point range. Dolly Smith also scored 14 points, and North Central held Augustana to eight points in the second quarter.
 
For Augustana, Tia Lewis led the team with 15 points. North Central continues to rank among the national leaders in bench scoring, entering the week 46th in Division III in bench points per game (25.3). The win moved the Cardinals to 7-5 in conference play and kept them in the group competing for the next tier of seeds behind the leaders.
 
Firebirds Flying High: Carthage Charges into the Conversation
Carthage extended a midseason push with three straight double-digit wins, continuing to improve its position in the middle of the standings. Last Saturday, Carthage defeated North Park 71-54 behind 22 points from Malia Green and five three-pointers from Nora Ahram. The Firebirds followed on Wednesday with a 63-52 road win at Wheaton.
 
In the win over Wheaton, Grace Cord posted 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Carthage’s defensive work in the first half set the tone, holding Wheaton to seven points in the second quarter and carrying a 13-point lead into halftime. The Firebirds are now 5-6 in CCIW play, remaining within reach of the teams currently in the 7-5 range.
 
Record Books Rewritten: Wizner and Gibson Reach High Marks
Career milestones continued to accumulate across the league. Carroll senior Emilie Wizner became the program’s all-time leader in three-point field goals made during Saturday’s win over Wheaton. Wizner, who ranks 11th nationally in three-pointers made (57), followed with 22 points and four three-pointers against Elmhurst on Wednesday.
 
Elmhurst senior Sierra Gibson surpassed the 1,200 career point mark on Wednesday, combining production from her first two collegiate seasons (858 points) and her scoring at Elmhurst (342 points) to reach the plateau. Carroll enters the week leading the league and ranking 17th nationally in team three-point percentage (34.4%).
 
Standings and Saturdays: The Road to the Tourney
Carroll and Illinois Wesleyan remain tied atop the standings at 11-1, with both teams already positioned for the conference tournament and competing for the top seed and the two opening-round byes. North Central and Elmhurst are tied at 7-5. Carthage and Augustana sit at 5-6, keeping the middle tier active and creating continued movement opportunities over the final weeks.
 
Saturday features a full slate of conference play. Carroll will host Augustana at 2 p.m., and North Central will travel to Wheaton. The late window includes Elmhurst visiting Illinois Wesleyan at the Shirk Center for a 5 p.m. start, pairing the league’s assist leader in Bukata with Illinois Wesleyan’s pressure defense.