The third seeded and 15th ranked nationally Millikin women's basketball team was knocked out of the 2024 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament with a semifinal loss to #19 and second seeded Carroll University Pioneers 75-66 on Feb. 22 at the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Illinois.

Carroll took control of the game early by going 11-14 (79 percent) from the field in the first quarter. Millikin was 8-14 from the field in the quarter but committed six turnovers. Carroll led 27-17 at the end of the quarter.

Millikin struggled to get its shots to go in the second quarter shooting only 4-20 (20 percent) from the field. The Big Blue trailed 45-26 at halftime.

The Big Blue made a strong comeback in the second half but could not overcome the first half deficit. In the third quarter, Millikin outscored the Pioneers 22-12 to pull to within 57-48 heading to the final period. The Big Blue made 4-7 from three-point range in the quarter to spur the comeback.

Millikin continued to battle in the fourth quarter pulling to with four points twice in the final six minutes. Matayia Tellis' three-pointer made it 62-58 Carroll with 5:19 to play and a Tellis free throw made it 66-62 under three minutes to play. Carroll answered the Millikin challenges and held on the for nine point victory. Each team scored 18 points in the final period.

Millikin shot 27-69 (39 percent) from the field and made 8-20 (40 percent) from three-point range. Carroll made 50 percent (30-60) from the field and went 5-12 from long range. The Pioneers won the rebounding battle 43-38.

One bright spot in the game for Millikin was senior Elyce Knudsen continue work to rewrite the Millikin women's basketball record book. The Big Blue's all-time leading scorer broke Lindsay Ippel's record for points in a season of 679. Knudsen surpassed the record scoring her 681 point of the season on a layup with 6:59 left to play in the second quarter. Knudsen stands at 697 points on the season and 2,208 in her career.

Knudsen was Millikin's top scorer with 22 points and five rebounds. Sophie Darden had her 16th double double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Bailey Coffman had eight points and six rebounds. Emily Brenneisen added eight points.

Olivia Rangel led Carroll with 24 points and seven rebounds. Natalie Gricius added 16 followed by Chloe Halverson with 14.

Millikin is now 22-5 on the season and must now play the waiting game to see if the get an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament. The selections will be announced on Monday, Feb. 26 at 1:30 p.m. CT at ncaa.com.

Carroll improves to 22-4 and advances to the CCIW Championship game on Saturday against the winner of Illinois Wesleyan and Augustana College.