Lauren Huber will be greatly missed.  What an amazing athletic career at IWU -- All-American in basketball and track & field, too.  A great leader, a great person.   

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Mia Smith has a big recruitment class coming in for 2025-2026:

More details to follow.  Here are the names:

Madison Sears, Libertyville
Caitlin Leyden, Maine South
Asia Kobylarczyk, Maine South (now there's a great name for you!)
Megan Allen, Monticello
Sofia Flynn, Trinity transfer, coming in as a senior
Ashley Mahlum, Barrington (yes, Laura Mahlum's sister)
Kaidyn King, Batavia
Lucy Hynes, Lockport
Rena Robinson, Arch Bishop Mitty (CA.)

Looks promising with some real size, too.  Of course, it will depend on how quickly the newbies adjust to the IWU "run and jump" system, to college life in general, and the speed and style of play of CCIW women's basketball at the IWU level. 

IWU has four key returning starters/rotation members from last year's 28-2 team:  Sawyer White, Sara Balli, Ava Bardic, and Laura Mahlum.  Mahlum has now recovered from injury. Hard to replace the departing seniors (Huber, Palmer, Powers, and Knudsen), but I'm pretty optimistic about the next edition competing strongly for another CCIW championship.

Happy Summer, all.  May Term now.  Last week of the regular semester, IWU had four more conference championships:  men's Lacrosse, men's golf, baseball and softball.  More games to come now, in conference tournaments and in national D3 tournament play.   Go Titans!

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Perhaps you'all saw that ISU and Elyce Knudsen will play another game in the WNIT this Thursday -- 6:30 p.m. -- to be played at IWU's Shirk Center.  Quarterfinals me thinks. 

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Congrats, yet again, to Lauren Huber on First Team All-American honors.

And to Huber, Powers and Bardic on All-Region honors.

Mia Smith earning many coaching honors this season as well. 

The seniors -- Knutson, Huber, Powers and Palmer -- will be greatly missed.  A great run for their IWU careers.

I think IWU will be fine next season with four of the eight player rotation returning:  White, Bardic, Balli and Mahlum.  Mahlum will need to get healthy, have the post-season surgery, return to form.  Perhaps Lipic, Feeney and Lam play a bigger role next season.   A big recruiting class is coming in which includes some top players.  So I think the Titans have a bright future next season. Mia Smith almost always finds a way to construct a very competitive team.

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Congrats to Roper and Hakim Williams on All-Region honors.

And, to Josh Fridman on being named Newcomer of the Year. 

I think the Titans will be OK next year with lots coming back.  Colak and Boldt likely stepping into the starting five.  Others will have their chance.  Yes, the seniors will be missed. 

Everyone will still be chasing Sorensen at Wheaton for several more years.

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Yes, Green Beer, I have the same feelings about the sudden sad ending to the season for both Titan teams.  A wonderful season all told, but an abrupt and disappointing ending.

Congrats to Lauren Huber, again, for being selected for the All-Star game to be played at the women's Final Four weekend in Salem, VA.  Olivia Rangel of Carroll was selected as well.

I hope Lauren wins the Josten, though I expect it to go to the top player from NYU. 

A truly wonderful season for IWU's women -- 28-2 on the year.

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I doubt Roper will play another year.  He was featured, along with the others, in Senior Day ceremonies, recently at the Shirk.

Yes, too bad the Titans couldn't hold that lead, let things slip away quickly down the stretch vs.  UW Lacrosse. 

Good luck to Wash U in the Final Four.

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UW Lacrosse over IWU and Wash U over WLC.

Too bad IWU couldn't go onward.  A great season.

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IWU's season comes to an end, losing to Oshkosh 63-43.   

IWU had their worst game of the season, by far,  2-15 from three, and losing the steals and TO lines.  All credit to the Oshkosh defense. 

Oshkosh had a balance attack with four players in double figures.

For IWU, only Ava Bardic made an impression with 15 points, but all the IWU perimeter shooters couldn't buy a basket. 

A sad ending.  Oshkosh is very good, may go all the way.  They will beat Baldwin Wallace easily tomorrow night. 

A great season for our Titans and for the four seniors -- Huber, Powers, Palmer and Knutson. A really fun team to watch and to like.  Thanks to all the seniors especially and to Coach Smith and the coaching staff.  A great job.

IWU finishes at 28-2.

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Thanks, Pat.  I try . . . 

Congratulations to Lauren Huber of IWU and Olivia Rangel of Carroll for their nominations as Jostens Finalists.  Both are very deserving. 

Looking forward to the big Sweet Sixteen match ups tonight.  Yes, IWU must always hit the glass when playing these bigger WIAC schools.  I think tonight it will be defense, pressure and speed that will win the game, if IWU comes out on top vs. UW Oshkosh.   (and a decent shooting percentage from three!). Gotta run them out of the gym, like IWU did with Trine.

Go TITANS! (against the other Titans). 

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Game Day -- IWU hosting UW Oshkosh tonight at The Shirk, 7:30 p.m. 

Baldwin Wallace plays Ohio Wesleyan in the 5 p.m. game.

Go TITANS -- everyone has to hit the glass tonight, then pressure them and run them out of the gym.

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If you want to see some truly outstanding basketball, come to the Shirk Center this Friday Saturday for the Sectional.  Baldwin Wallace vs. Ohio Wesleyan at 5 p.m. and our Titans, #4 IWU vs. UW-Oshkosh at 7:30 p.m.

I have IWU over Oshkosh and Baldwin Wallace over Ohio Wesleyan.  Let's hope the Titan women can keep it rolling and then beat BW on Saturday night for a trip to Salem, VA. and the Final Four.

The Shirk will be jumping and the atmosphere for D3 women's hoops couldn't be better, more electric.  I expect another huge crowd with IWU enjoying a great home court advantage. 

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Should be a great weekend up in Lacrosse.  Four high-quality teams going at it.

I have IWU over UW-Lacrosse and Wash U over WLC.  On Saturday -- you pick them.  If IWU plays up to its potential and possible level, I'd have them beating Wash U again at this stage and making it to Ft. Wayne. 

Wish I could be there in Cheeseheadland, but I'm staying home at The Shirk and cheering on the women Titans.  In that pod, all top 20 teams too.   I have IWU over Oshkosh (Titans vs. Titans), and Baldwin Wallace over Ohio Wesleyan.  Then, hoping the IWU women keep it rolling too over Baldwin Wallace and a trip to Salem, VA. and the Final Four.

It's a great time to be an IWU basketball fan.

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Greenbeer, agree with you on Huber.  Not one of her better games, often caught in traffic and turning it over too much.  As you say, Caite Knutson surely stepped up, did the rebounding and some really nice short-range scoring.  When she's on like that it opens up the three point shooting, the perimeter for Bardic, Powers and others. . .  Bardic was just an assassin last night with 26 and 5 treys.  Love to watch her play. 

Oshkosh will be another challenge, with size and playing in a very tough conference.  Glad we can host at home again and have the advantage of Shirk and the big, boisterous home crowd.  The atmosphere at The Shirk has been fabulous.   Let's hope the community turns out again and that some of the students return early for these Sectional games from their Spring break week.
The Titan band makes a huge difference in support for the Titans.

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The WI-Lacrosse Pod:

#5 WI-Lacrosse, #9 IWU, #17 Wash U, #22 Wisconsin-Lutheran

IWU beat Wash U earlier in the season. 

Go Titans!!

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