The Millikin women's basketball used a late rally to defeat North Park University 68-61 in Chicago on Jan. 14.

          The Big Blue outscored the Vikings 13-0 in the games final three minutes to pull out the victory.

          After a back and forth first half that saw each team build a small advantage, the Vikings went into the locker room up 32-27 at the half.  North Park would hold the lead for the first 18 minutes of the second half building the advantage to as large as nine points.  North Park was up 59-52 with 3:31 when the Big Blue started to make it interesting.  Beth Wellbaum would hit a three-pointer to pull Millikin to 59-55.  At the three minute mark, North Park would score it final points of the game on two free throws to make it 61-55 Vikings.

          A Julia Robert free throw and baskets by Wellbaum and Olya Cholewick brought the Big Blue to within one with 1:38 left to play.  Seconds later a Robert steal and basket gave Millikin the lead at 62-61.  Robert would then hit six straight free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the Big Blue victory.

          Robert led the Big Blue with 21 points, six points and three steals.  Crystal Zeigler had 14 points and a team high seven rebounds.  Wellbaum finished with

seven points, eight assists and three steals.

          Roxanne Jones was the Vikings top scorer with 14 points.

          North Park shot 47 percent from the field while holding the Big Blue to 39 percent, but the Big Blue made two more baskets than the Vikings thanks to a 40 to 27 rebounding advantage.

          Millikin is now 10-5, 2-2 and North Park falls to 6-9, 0-4.  The Big Blue will host Elmhurst on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m.