The Millikin women escaped an upset bid by North Central defeating the Cardinals 59-58 when Crystal Zeigler hit two free throws with one second left to play on Feb. 5 at the Griswold Center.
Millikin had the advantage for most of the game taking a 29-23 lead into halftime.
In the second half the Big Blue were for the first 13 minutes of the half building a lead as large as 11 points, but Millikin could never completely shake the Cardinals. The Big Blue was up 55-46 with just over seven minutes left to play. North Central then went on an 11-0 run over the next six minutes and were up 57-55 with 40 seconds left on a Jackie Errico field goal. Millikin then tied the game scoring its first point in almost seven minutes on an Elise Wildman basket. Another Errico free throw with 18 seconds left game the Cardinals a 58-57 lead. Millikin's Crystal Zeigler missed a game winning basket with three seconds left to play, but pulled down the rebound and was fouled. Zeigler hit two free throws with one second left to pull out the victory for the Big Blue.
Millikin survived a cold shooting night hitting only 36.5 percent of its shots including going 5-25 (20 percent) from three point range. Millikin also struggled at the free throw line hitting only 8-13 (61.5 percent).
North Central shot only 34 percent, but was a little better from beyond the arc hitting 6-15 (40 percent) and at the free throw line hit 14-20 (70 percent).
Millikin had a slight rebounding edge 41-39 and forced North Central into 19 turnovers while Millikin committed 15.
Olya Cholewick and Wildman were Millikin's top scorers with 14 points each. Heather Pruemer had 12 points. Zeigler had seven points and a team high 11 rebounds.
Julia Robert had eight points and seven assists.
Errico had 22 points to lead North Central along with a team high seven rebounds.
Millikin will travel to Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington on Feb. 8 in a battle for first place in the CCIW. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m.