The #23 ranked Millikin University women's basketball team defeated Augustana College 57-52 on February 25 at the Griswold Center in Decatur, Illinois to win the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament and earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament.
Millikin, who improves to 23-4 on the year, will find on Monday at 1:30 p.m. where they will play and who they will face. The NCAA DIII selection show will be available at NCAA.com
The game was a close defensive battle that featured nine lead changes and was tied 11 times. Augustana's largest lead of the game was four points in the first quarter and Millikin's biggest lead was six points early in the fourth quarter. The Vikings lead 11-9 at the end of the first quarter and 25-23 at the half. The Big Blue outscored the Vikings by five in the third quarter and led 41-38 heading into the final quarter.
After Augustana scored the opening basket of the fourth quarter, Elyce Knudsen gave Millikin a 43-40 lead. Miranda Fox then hit a three-pointer to open up Millikin's six point advantage. The Big Blue could never shake the Vikings and Augustana made one more run and tied the game at 52-52 on a three-pointer from Emily Brenneisen with 1:56 remaining in the game. That basket would be the final point for the Vikings. Emily White made a driving layup and free throw to make it 55-52 Millikin with 1:35 to go. Sophie Darden would make two free throw for the final margin after grabbing a huge offensive rebound with 30 seconds left in the game.
Knudsen led Millikin with 17 points, five steals, three rebounds and three assists. Darden scored eight points and had a team high six rebounds. Sarah Ness had eight points and four rebounds.
Emma Berg led the Vikings with 15 points and five rebounds followed by Gabriela Loiz with 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Millikin shot 30.6 percent (19-62) from the field while Augustana made 22-56 (39.3 percent). Augustana committed 23 turnovers resulting in 28 Millikin points.
Augustana is now 19-9 and has hopes of receiving at at-large NCAA Tournament berth.