NAPERVILLE — Carroll and Illinois Wesleyan both advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship with victories on Friday night. The two College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) programs now share matching 23-5 overall records entering Saturday’s second-round matchups.

At Van Male Fieldhouse, Carroll erased a double-digit deficit to defeat DePauw, 74-67. DePauw led by as many as 14 points in the first half and carried a 57-49 advantage into the fourth quarter before the Pioneers closed the game on a 25-10 run.

Natalie Gricius matched her career high with 39 points, finishing 12-of-24 from the field and 11-of-13 at the free-throw line. Julia Lokker added 16 points, including the go-ahead putback in the final minute, while Emilie Wizner contributed 12 points. Carroll also limited DePauw to 18.8 percent shooting in the fourth quarter.

In Holland, Mich., Illinois Wesleyan posted a 61-53 win over Washington & Jefferson at DeVos Fieldhouse to reach the second round for the third consecutive season. Sara Balli led the Titans with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Ava Bardic added 15 points. Illinois Wesleyan forced 28 turnovers and collected 15 steals in the win, with Sawyer White totaling eight steals, seven points and five assists. Leah Palmer added a team-high 10 rebounds off the bench, and the Titans used a 15-6 third-quarter run to create separation after a close opening half.

Both teams return to the floor Saturday. Carroll will host Wisconsin-La Crosse at 7:45 p.m. at Van Male Fieldhouse, while Illinois Wesleyan will face host Hope at 7:30 p.m. CT.