The Titans next play against Wis.-Stevens Point at a sectional site to be announced on Sunday. The Pointers were 78-58 winners at home against Concordia (Wis.).
Against the Blugolds (24-6), the Titans led 38-32 at the half and Eau Claire closed to within three at 50-47 with 13:38 to play. IWU held the Blugolds scoreless for a four minute, 45 second stretch, extending a 53-49 lead to a 64-49 advantage.
The No. 1-ranked Titans (29-0) were led by the 17 points of senior Claire Sheehan while senior Mallory Heydorn and junior Christina Solari each added 13. Solari led IWU with eight rebounds as the Blugolds outrebounded IWU, 37-32. The Titans shot 50 percent (28 of 56) from the field and connected on 10 of 27 (37 percent) from 3-point range.
The Blugolds got 15 points from Heidi Arciszewski and 11 points and 11 rebounds out of Ellen Plendl.
Newspaper Box Score Wisconsin-Eau Claire vs Illinois Wesleyan 3/7/09 7 p.m. at Shirk Center, Bloomington, Ill. At Shirk Center, Bloomington, Ill. ILLINOIS WESLEYAN 80, WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE 63 WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE (24-6) Arciszewski, Heidi 5-16 5-5 15; Plendl, Ellen 5-8 1-4 11; Fremstad, Missy 2-5 5-5 9; Kaye, Pam 2-5 2-2 8; Witt, Heather 1-8 4-4 7; Mesick, Hannah 3-4 0-0 6; Lindner, Jodi 2-4 0-0 4; Weinberg, Katie 1-3 0-0 3; Anderson, Ashley 0-0 0-0 0; Kaeding, Kari 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-53 17-20 63. ILLINOIS WESLEYAN (29-0) Sheehan, Claire 5-7 4-6 17; Solari, Christina 4-6 5-9 13; Heydorn, Mallory 4-18 2-2 13; Caplice, Colleen 4-6 1-1 9; Castans, Kylie 3-3 0-0 8; Harvey, Holly 2-2 0-0 5; Arlis, Stacey 2-5 1-2 5; Cotner, Sarah 1-1 1-3 3; Preston, Nikki 1-6 0-0 3; Schulte, Hope 1-1 0-0 2; Williams, Carrie 1-1 0-0 2; Solari, Karen 0-0 0-0 0; Hinterlong, Jessica 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-56 14-23 80. Wisconsin-Eau Claire.......... 32 31 - 63 Illinois Wesleyan............. 38 42 - 80 3-point goals--Wisconsin-Eau Claire 4-16 (Kaye, Pam 2-5; Weinberg, Katie 1-2; Witt, Heather 1-4; Fremstad, Missy 0-3; Arciszewski, Heidi 0-2), Illinois Wesleyan 10-27 (Heydorn, Mallory 3-14; Sheehan, Claire 3-4; Castans, Kylie 2-2; Harvey, Holly 1-1; Preston, Nikki 1-6). Fouled out--Wisconsin-Eau Claire-None, Illinois Wesleyan-None. Rebounds--Wisconsin-Eau Claire 37 (Plendl, Ellen 11), Illinois Wesleyan 32 (Sheehan, Claire 8). Assists--Wisconsin-Eau Claire 10 (Witt, Heather 3), Illinois Wesleyan 16 (Solari, Christina 6). Total fouls--Wisconsin-Eau Claire 19, Illinois Wesleyan 20. Technical fouls--Wisconsin-Eau Claire-None, Illinois Wesleyan-None. A-1950 NCAA Division III second round tournament game... IWU advances to sectional to play Wis.-Stevens Point (78-58 winner over Concordia Wis.)... Sectional site TBA on Sunday