The Millikin women's basketball team survived a furious fourth quarter rally to defeat Willamette University 91-83 in the opening game of the 2024 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament in Whitewater, Wis. on March 1. The Big Blue advance to the round of 32 on Saturday to play the winner of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Minnesota-Morris.

Millikin (23-5) was in total control much of the game. The Big Blue lead 24-14 at the end of the first quarter and 52-30 at halftime. Millikin pushed out to its biggest lead of 25 points (58-33) with 8:35 left in the third quarter. Willamette then began to battle back outscoring Millikin by eight in the third quarter. Millikin lead the final quarter 69-55 but the Bearcats wouldn't go away outing scoring Millikin 28-22 in the final quarter.

Willamette (17-10) shot 69 percent (11-16) from the field in the third quarter and 58 percent (11-19) in the fourth quarter. The Bearcats made 5-8 (62.5) percent from three-point range in the final quarter.

Millikin lead by 83-67 with 2:33 left in the game. Willamette scored five straight on a three-pointer by Kaitlin Imai and a basket by Ava Kitchin to pull to 83-72 54 seconds remaining. After Millikin went 1-2 from the free throw line and a late turnover, Willamette pulled to 84-78 on a three pointer from Elyse Waldal with 22 seconds to go in the game. Millikin's Emily Brenneisen hit two free throws to make it 86-78. Sophie Darden hit two free throws for Millikin nine seconds left to keep the lead at eight. Willamette made one final charge on anther Waldal three pointer to pull to 88-83 with five second left to play. An Elyce Knudsen free throw a key steal from Matayia Tellis with two seconds remaining sealed the victory for Millikin.

Knudsen led Millikin with 36 points, five rebounds and three assists. Darden had 21 points, six rebounds and three assists. Bailey Coffman added 13 points and four rebounds. Emily White added eight points including two key second half three-pointers.

Carolyn Ho led Willamette with 21 points and three assists. Waldal finished with 14. Imai and Kitchin each added 10.

Millikin shot 51 percent (30-59) from the field and made 8-22 (36 percent) from three-point range. Willamette shot 56 percent (35-63) from the field going 8-22 from three-point range. Millikin won the rebounding battle 34-25.