The Millikin women's basketball team snapped a three game losing streak with a 73-70 win at Carthage College on Feb. 19.  The victory secures Millikin third place in the CCIW and the number three seed in the conference tournament to be played at Illinois Wesleyan Feb. 25-26.  Millikin is now 16-8 overall and 8-5 in the CCIW while Carthage ends the regulars season 17-8, 8-6.  Millikin's two wins over Carthage drops the Lady Reds to fourth place in the conference.

            The game was a back-and-fourth contest in the first half with both teams holding five point advantages at difference points in the half.  The game was tied at 31-31 at halftime.

            Carthage opened the second half strong and built an 11 point advantage in the first five minutes of the half.  The Big Blue then went on a 15-2 run and took a 51-49 lead with 9:53 left to play on a Julia Robert three pointer.  After a brief Carthage lead, Millikin built a 60-52 lead with five minutes left in the game.  Carthage then went on a 9-0 run to make it 61-60 Lady Reds with 2:10 left to play.

            Elise Wildman answered for the Big Blue giving Millikin a 62-61 advantage.  Carthage's Heather Gilmore then scored to make it 63-62 Carthage with 1:26 left in game.  Robert hit a three point with one minute left to make it 65-63, but Gilmore answered with her own three to give Carthage the 66-65 lead with 25 seconds left.  Two Beth Wellbaum free throws with 30 seconds left put the Big Blue up 67-66. 

            After a Carthage missed three and pulled down the offensive rebound, Robert stole the ball and was fouled.  Robert hit two free throws with nine seconds remaining to make it 69-66.  After a Carthage timeout, the Big Blue fouled the Lady Reds to prevent a game tying three point attempt.  Carthage's Taylor Tondelli hit two free throws to cut the Millikin advantage to 69-68 with seven seconds left in the game.  Wellbaum would hit four straight free throws in the final six seconds to give Millikin the 73-70 win.

            Millikin shot 47 percent from the field including 35 percent from three point range.  Carthage hit 49 percent from the field and 33 percent from three point range.  Millikin had the advantage at the free throw line hitting 25-27 compared to Carthage's 15-17.  Millikin edged Carthage on the boards 26-25 and both teams had 21 turnovers.
            Robert was Millikin's top scorer with 19 points.  Wildman has 16 and Wellbaum had 14.

            Gilmore had 19 to lead the Lady Reds with Diana Jacklin adding 17.

            Millikin completes the regular season on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. when they host Elmhurst in a make-up game from the early February blizzard.