Illinois Wesleyan 2005-06 Women's Basketball Stories

Contact: Stew Salowitz (309) 556-3206

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April 4
Senior Heidi Harnisch has been chosen as the "Most Valuable Player" for the 2005-06 Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team. Harnisch led the Titans with a 14.5 scoring average and connected on 77 3-point field goals, a total that is second most in an IWU season. She finished her career as IWU’s 20th all-time scorer with 845 points and her 140 3-pointers is third most at the school. In other team honors, senior Amanda Glerum was named the "Best Defensive Player" and senior Val Fleishman was chosen as the winner of the team's "All-American Titan" honor, bestowed for sportsmanship, integrity, leadership and overall responsibility to basketball success.

February 25
Senior Heidi Harnisch has been named "Most Outstanding Player" in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin and was chosen to the first team of the league's al-star squads. Teammates Mallory Heydorn and Val Fleishman were chosen to the second and third teams, respectively.
Harnisch led the CCIW in 3-pointers per game (3.07) and 3-point shooting percentage (.506, 43-85), was third in scoring (15.6) and seventh in field goal percentage (.466, 75-161).
Heydorn, a freshman guard, was second in league games in 3-pointers per game (2.21), third in blocked shots (0.93), fifth in assists (3.0) and eighth in scoring (12.5).
Fleishman, a senior forward, was 14th in the league in scoring (11.0 points) and 10th in rebounds (6.4). She was 13th in field goal percentage (.442, 42-95), fifth in free throw percentage (.805, 70-87), and fourth with 0.86 blocks per game.
Harnisch is the second Illinois Wesleyan player ever to win the league's MVP honor - Katie Cantrell also won the CCIW honor in 2003.

February 25
The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team lost to Wheaton, 74-60, in the championship game of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament on Sat., Feb. 25 at Wheaton. IWU trailed, 42-29, at the half but battled back to within five points late in the game but could get no closer. Katie Blonn led IWU with 16 points while Claire Sheehan and Heidi Harnisch each added 10. Val Fleishman scored nine points and snared a game-best 12 rebounds. With the loss, IWU falls to 19-8 for the season.

February 24
The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team improved to 19-7 overall and will play for the championship of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin postseason tournament after a 49-46 come from behind win over North Park on Fri., Feb. 24, at Wheaton. The Titans trailed, 34-25 at halftime but outscored the Vikings, 24-12 in the second half and limited North Park to 4 of 23 from the field. Val Fleishman led IWU with 18 points and Mallory Heydorn scored 10 in the win. IWU will play No. 1 seed Wheaton for the title at 2 p.m. Sat., Feb. 25. North Park led 39-31 with 14:55 remaining in the game when the Titans put together an 11-4 run to cut the Vikings' lead to 43-42 with 6:20 left in the second half. However, the best the Titans could do was tie the game as IWU never took the lead until Fleishman broke a 46-46 tie by scoring a basket with 8 seconds left. Fleishman was fouled on the play and sank a free throw to build her team's lead up to 49-46 and it would hold as North Park missed a 3-point try at the buzzer. Fleishman scored Illinois Wesleyan's final seven points.
February 22
IWU Game Notes, 2006 CCIW Postseason Tournament
February 18
Senior Katie Blonn scored 22 points and grabbed five rebounds and senior Heidi Harnisch added 15 points to lead the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team to a 63-49 win over North Park on Sat., Feb. 18 in Chicago. The win improves the Titans to 18-7 overall and 10-4 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin and IWU will play next Friday (Feb. 24) in the CCIW postseason tournament against an opponent yet to be determined. IWU trailed, 8-7 early in the game but outscored the Vikings, 21-8 the rest of the way to take a commanding 28-16 halftime edge. The Titans outrebounded the Vikings 26-20 and shot a torrid 59 percent from the floor (23-39) in the game.

February 16
Illinois Wesleyan secured a spot in the postseason College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament with an 81-53 win over Augustana on Tues., Feb. 14 at the Shirk Center. The Titans got five players in double figures, led by Heidi Harnisch with 23, 18 from Mallory Heydorn, 15 from Claire Sheehan, Val Fleishman with 12 and Katie Blonn with 10. Fleishman grabbed a team-high seven rebounds as the Titans held a 41-36 rebound edge and the Titans connected on 11 3-pointers. Augustana is 6-18 overall and 0-13 in the CCIW while the Titans improved to 17-7 overall and 9-4 in the league.
February 11
The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team lost a key College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin game to Wheaton, 63-49, at the Shirk Center on Sat., Feb. 11. Mallory Heydorn was the lone Titan to score in double figures, getting 16 with six rebounds. Val Fleishman had nine and Katie Blonn scored eight for IWU, who shot 33 percent from the field (17 of 52) and was outrebounded, 46-31. No. 14 ranked Wheaton improved to 19-3 overall, 9-2 in the CCIW, while IWU fell to 16-7 overall and 8-4 in the CCIW.
February 7
Illinois Wesleyan outscored Millikin, 15-5 in the final 3:44, snapping a 57-57 tie and posted a 72-62 win in Decatur on Tues., Feb. 7. The Titans, who trailed by a 29-21 margin at the half, improved to 16-6 overall and 8-3 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin as senior Heidi Harnish scored 23 points (18 in the second half). Freshman Mallory Heydorn finished with 14 points and senior Val Fleishman contributed 13 with a team-high four rebounds. Millikin, who committed 24 turnovers, fell to 12-9 overall and 4-6 in the CCIW.

February 4
The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team saw their six-game winning streak snapped in a 76-72 loss to Elmhurst on Sat., Feb. 4 at the Shirk Center. Freshman Mallory Heydorn (LaGrange, Lyons Township HS)) scored 23 points for the Titans while senior Heidi Harnisch (Urbana HS) scored 14 and seniors Val Fleishman (Oak Brook, Hinsdale Central HS) and Katie Blonn (Des Plaines, Maine West HS) each added 11. IWU fell to 15-6 overall and 7-3 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while the Bluejays improved to 14-6, 4-5 CCIW. The Titans were outrebounded, 39-32, and managed only 38 percent shooting (21 of 55) from the field.

February 1
Illinois Wesleyan had to go an extra period to win its sixth straight game, claiming a 70-66 decision over North Central at Naperville on Wed., Feb. 1. The Titans got 22 points from freshman Claire Sheehan and senior Heidi Harnisch and 10 points from freshman Mallory Heydorn as they improved to 15-5 overall and 7-2 and first place in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The Titans shot 46 percent from the field and made 74 percent of their free throw tries, including all six in the overtime. The game, which was delayed almost an hour when the officials were late arriving, was tied at 60-60 at the end of regulation.

January 28
The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team won its fifth straight game by taking a 68-57 decision over Carthage on Sat., Jan. 28 at the Shirk Center. Heidi Harnisch scored 17 points and freshman Mallory Heydorn scored 16 points and handed out seven assists. Katie Blonn had 14 points and Brianna Baker-Carvell came off the bench to grab 15 rebounds, the ninth highest total in a single game at IWU. The Titans, who outrebounded the Lady Reds, 50-33, improved to 14-5 overall and 6-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while Carthage fell to 9-9 overall 4-3 in the league.

January 24
With 18 points, senior Heidi Harnisch led four players in double figure scoring as the Illinois Wesleyan women’s basketball team took a 79-57 decision over Augustana in Rock Island on Tues., Jan. 24. Freshman Mallory Heydorn scored 17 and handed out eight assists, senior Katie Blonn had 16 and senior Val Fleishman scored 12 points with a team-high eight rebounds as the Titans won their fourth straight game and improved to 13-5 overall and 5-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. IWU held a 44-33 rebound edge over the Vikings, who lost for the seventh straight time and are 6-1, 0-7 CCIW. Heydorn connected on five of the Titans’ 11 3-point field goals.

January 23
Senior guard Amanda Glerum will be lost to the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team for the remainder of the 2005-06 season. Glerum (Champaign, Centennial HS) suffered a torn muscle in her right quadriceps on Saturday that created what is called a "compartment syndrome."  An operation was performed at Normal's BroMenn Regional Medical Center to relieve the hematoma and while Glerum's prognosis is good, she still has an open wound from the surgery that won't be able to be closed until the swelling recedes. She is expected to spend seven to 10 days in the hospital. Glerum has started all 17 games for IWU this year and is averaging 9.5 points per game and shooting .938 (45 of 48) from the free throw line. She is 19th all-time at IWU with 827 career points and is tied for second with 150 career 3-pointers made.

January 23
Val Fleishman of Illinois Wesleyan was named the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Women's Basketball Player of the Week Monday after her performance during the previous week of competition. Fleishman, a senior from Oak Brook, Ill., scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in Illinois Wesleyan's 63-60 upset win over Wheaton on Jan. 17. She made 12 of 13 free throws, had two steals, a block and an assist. In a 71-57 win over North Park on Jan. 21, Fleishman scored 16 points with six rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. For the week Fleishman made .833 percent of her free throw tries (20 of 24) and averaged 16 points and nine rebounds.

January 21
The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team won its third straight game, claiming a 71-57 decision over North Park on Sat., Jan. 21 at the Shirk Center. The Titans improved to 12-5 overall and 4-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while North Park fell to 8-9, 3-3 CCIW. Senior Val Fleishman led four Titans in double figures with 16 points while Mallory Heydorn, Amanda Glerum and Katie Blonn each got 11. Brianna Baker-Carvell grabbed a team-high nine rebounds while Blonn snared seven and Fleishman got six boards. The Titans trailed, 27-26 at the half but outscored the Vikings, 45-30 in the final period.

January 17
Senior Val Fleishman led four players in double figure scoring with 16 points as the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team upset No. 6-ranked Wheaton, 63-60, on Tues., Jan. 17 at Wheaton's King Arena. Fleishman had a game-high 12 rebounds and connected on 12 of 13 free throws as the Titans improved to 11-5 overall and 3-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Senior Heidi Harnisch scored 11 points and senior Amanda Glerum and freshman Claire Sheehan each netted 10 for IWU, who led by as many as 14 in the second half and ended a seven game winning streak of Wheaton's. The Thunder are now 12-2 overall and 3-1 in the league.

January 14
Senior Heidi Harnisch scored 22 points and snared seven rebounds as the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team claimed a 63-59 win at Elmhurst on Sat., Jan. 14. Freshmen Claire Sheehan and Mallory Heydorn each scored 10 points and senior Val Fleishman had six points with a team-high eight rebounds. The win gives IWU a 10-5 overall record and a 3-2 mark in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while the Bluejays fall to 11-3 overall, 1-2 in the league.

January 10
After tying the game at 57-57, Illinois Wesleyan was outscored 8-4 in the final 2:26 and lost to Millikin, 65-61, at the Shirk Center on Tues., Jan. 10. The Titans fall to 9-5 overall and 1-2 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin while defending national champion Millikin improved to 9-4 overall, 1-1 in the CCIW. Senior Val Fleishman scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Titans, who also got 18 points and five rebounds from Heidi Harnisch and nine rebounds from Katie Blonn. The Big Blue shot 51.1 percent for the game (24 of 27) from the field and held a 37-35 rebound edge over IWU, who shot 33.8 from the floor (22 of 65). Millikin got 27 points and nine rebounds from Lindsay Ippel.

January 7
Illinois Wesleyan bounced back from a Jan. 4 loss to post its first College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin win, 64-49, over Carthage on Sat., Jan. 7 in Kenosha, Wis. Senior Val Fleishman scored 19 points and grabbed five rebounds and Mallory Heydorn had 11 points and nine rebounds as IWU improved to 9-4 overall and 1-1 in the league. Brianna Baker-Carvell came off the bench to grab a game-high 10 rebounds and score six points. IWU had a 51-35 rebounding edge in the game and held the Lady Reds (5-7, 0-1 CCIW) to a mere 25 percent shooting from the field (15 of 59).

January 4
The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team held a 26-21 lead at halftime but dropped a 67-51 decision to North Central at the Shirk Center on Wed., Jan. 4 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opener. The Titans got 14 points from Mallory Heydorn, 12 from Heidi Harnisch and 10 points with seven rebounds from Katie Blonn but shot only 25 percent from the field in the second half compared to 72 percent for North Central (18 of 25). The Cardinals outscored IWU, 46-25, in the second period but IWU outrebounded North Central, 41-26 in the game. IWU falls to 8-4 overall and 0-1 in the CCIW while NCC improved to 6-7, 1-1 CCIW.

December 29
Freshmen guards Mallory Heydorn and Claire Sheehan scored 13 and 12 points, respectively, to lead the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team to a 62-59 win over Ripon in the third place game of the Trinity University Holiday Tournament in San Antonio, Texas on Thurs., Dec. 29. Katie Blonn also scored 11 points and Val Fleishman (who was named to the all-tournament team) scored eight points and snared seven rebounds. Thea Rogers came off the bench to grab a game-high eight boards as IWU (8-3) outrebounded the Red Hawks, 34-23. The Titans made seven of 20 3-point field goal tries. The Titans' next game is Wed., Jan. 4 to open the conference season vs. North Central.

December 28
The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team saw its six-game winning streak snapped in a 69-61 loss to Trinity at the Trinity Holiday Tournament in San Antonio, Texas on Wed., Dec. 28. The Titans, who shot only 38 percent (19 of 50) from the field in the game, are 7-3 while Trinity improved to 7-1. Senior Val Fleishman led IWU with 21 points and 10 rebounds while freshman guard Mallory Heydorn contributed 13 points and senior Heidi Harnisch scored 10. IWU, which went 5-of-24 in 3-point tries, will face the loser of the game between Ripon and Johns Hopkins at 1 p.m. on Thurs., Dec. 29 in the tourney's final day.

December 18
Seniors Heidi Harnisch and Amanda Glerum each produced 14 points and freshman Mallory Heydorn scored 12 as the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team earned a 73-60 nonconference win over Nebraska Wesleyan on Sun., Dec. 18 in Lincoln, Neb. The Titans improved to 7-2 with their sixth straight victory. Senior Katie Blonn came off the bench to score 10 points and grab a team-high seven rebounds for IWU, who led 32-24 at the half and held a 34-30 rebounding edge over the Prairie Wolves, who fell to 2-6 overall. Glerum also handed out five assists for the Titans.

December 10
Senior Heidi Harnisch scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team to a 61-53 nonconference win over Central (Iowa) at the Shirk Center on Sat., Dec. 10. Harnisch made five 3-point field goals, as did senior Amanda Glerum, who finished with 15 points, and senior Val Fleishman added 12 points with six rebounds and three steals. The Titans, who are among teams receiving votes in this week’s USA Today/ESPN Division III women’s poll, won for the fifth straight time and improved to 6-2 this season while Central falls to 0-4. IWU outrebounded the Dutch, 40-38, and forced 21 turnovers.

November 29
The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team won its third straight game, claiming a 74-46 decision at Eureka College on Tues., Nov. 29. IWU was led in scoring by freshman Mallory Heydorn with 17 points while Amanda Glerum added 10 and Heidi Harnisch scored 10 points and snared a game-high nine rebounds. Heydorn connected on seven-of-13 from the field and made three 3-point field goals while also grabbing six rebounds. The Titans (4-2 overall) held a 43-26 rebounding edge and shot 52.6 percent for the game from the field (30 of 57) against Eureka, who fell to 2-2.

November 28
Illinois Wesleyan senior Val Fleishman has been named women’s basketball “Player of the Week” in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. She averaged 14.0 points and 7.7 rebounds as IWU went 2-1 last week, including a win over previously unbeaten Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Fleishman had 15 points and 10 rebounds with two blocks in a one-point loss at Lake Forest, then scored 15 points with six rebounds and a block in a win over Aurora. Against UW-SP she had 12 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, four steals and handed out three assists. For the week she shot .471 from the field (16 of 34) and had nine of her 23 rebounds on the offensive glass.

November 27
The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team placed four players in double figure scoring and knocked off previously unbeaten Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 80-63, on Sun., Nov. 27 at the Shirk Center. Crystal Dye scored 18 points to lead IWU while Heidi Harnisch scored 15, Amanda Glerum had 13 and Val Fleishman had 12. Fleishman and Katie Blonn led the Titans (3-2) with seven rebounds as IWU outrebounded the Pointers (4-1) by a 39-32 margin. Illinois Wesleyan shot .889 from the free throw line, connecting on 24 of 27 attempts, and the Titans jumped off to a 45-34 halftime lead.

November 26
The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team improved to 2-2 this season with a 64-53 nonconference win over Aurora on Sat., Nov. 26 at the Shirk Center. The Titans, who committed 25 turnovers in the win, were led by the 15 points from Val Fleishman while three other Titans scored 10 points each - seniors Amanda Glerum and Heidi Harnsich and freshman Mallory Heydorn. IWU held a 53-37 rebounding advantage over the Spartans (who fell to 1-3) and were led by Katie Blonn with eight boards while Harnisch and Crystal Dye each collected seven. IWU hosts unbeaten Wisconsin-Stevens Point at 2 p.m. Sun., Nov. 27 at the Shirk Center.

November 22
The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team had three players in double figures but lost a 60-59 nonconference decision at Lake Forest on Tues., Nov. 22. Senior Heidi Harnisch scored 17, senior Val Fleishman scored 15 points and collected a game-best 10 rebounds, and senior Amanda Glerum contributed 12 points with five assists for the Titans, who are 1-2. IWU had a 34-30 halftime lead but managed only 28 per cent shooting (9 of 32) from the field in the second half and committed 27 turnovers in the game. IWU hosts Aurora at 2 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 26.

November 19
Senior Heidi Harnisch scored 21 points as the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team breezed to an 82-39 win over Coe in the third place game of the Washington U. Tournament in St. Louis on Sat., Nov. 19. Freshman Claire Sheehan scored 17 and senior Katie Blonn scored 12 and grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds for IWU, who improved to 1-1. The Titans held a 44-11 lead at halftime.

November 18
The Illinois Wesleyan women’s basketball team dropped its season-opening game, 72-60, to No. 22-ranked DePauw in the Washington U. Tournament on Fri., Nov. 18 in St. Louis. Senior Amanda Glerum scored 16 points to lead the Titans while freshman Mallory Heydorn scored 11 and senior Heidi Harnisch contributed 10. Val Fleishman and Crystal Dye led IWU with six rebounds each. The Titans, who managed only 38 per cent field goal shooting in the contest, will play either Coe or the host school at 2 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 19.

November 15
2005-06 Illinois Wesleyan Women's Basketball Preview (CoSIDA)

September 28
The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team, coached by Mia Smith, has eight letterwinners returning for the 2005-06 season, led by seniors Heidi Harnisch, Val Fleishman, Katie Blonn and Amanda Glerum. The Titans were 16-11 last season and advanced to the championship game of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament before losing to eventual national Division III champion Millikin. IWU, 8-6 in league play in 2004-05, opens its season against DePauw (23-6 last season) at the Washington U. Tournament in St. Louis at 5 p.m. Nov. 18.