The Millikin women's basketball team took a major step in getting back in the hunt for the CCIW tournament with a 71-61 win over Wheaton College on Feb. 1 at the Griswold Center.

          Wheaton had a halftime advantage of 33-30 and led for first 10 minutes of the second half before the Big Blue rallied to take control of the game.  Millikin tied the game at 53-53 with just under eight minutes left to play on a three-point basket by Beth Wellbaum.  The Big Blue would then go on a nine to one run to open up the game.  Heather Pruemer and Crystal Zeigler started the run with baskets and then Cecily Aldridge closed it out with back-to-back driving to the hoop layups.

          Millikin hit on 46 percent of its field goals while the Thunder connected on 44 percent.  The Big Blue connected on 8-14 (57 percent) from three point range.  Millikin out rebounded Wheaton 34-29.  Both teams had trouble holding onto the basketball with each team committing 25 turnovers.

          Millikin featured a balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures led by Wellbaum with 17 points and three assists.  Pruemer had 14 points, Aldridge had 13 and Julia Robert added 11.  Zeigler had a team high seven rebounds along with seven points.    

          The Thunder's top scorer was Lindsey Brenneman with 17 points.  Maris Hovee had a double double with 15 points and a team high 10 rebounds.

          Wheaton entered the game in a three way tie for second place two games ahead of Millikin.  The Big Blue are now 13-7, 5-4 while Wheaton goes to 13-7 and 6-3.  Millikin will try to climb up another step in the conference race when they host Carthage College on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 2 p.m. Starting the night Carthage and Elmhurst were the other teams tied for second.

          Saturday will be Millikin's annual PinkZone game with proceeds benefitting Decatur's Come Together Let's Walk anti-cancer effort.

          The Millikin women's basketball team took a major step in getting back in the hunt for the CCIW tournament with a 71-61 win over Wheaton College on Feb. 1 at the Griswold Center.

          Wheaton had a halftime advantage of 33-30 and led for first 10 minutes of the second half before the Big Blue rallied to take control of the game.  Millikin tied the game at 53-53 with just under eight minutes left to play on a three-point basket by Beth Wellbaum.  The Big Blue would then go on a nine to one run to open up the game.  Heather Pruemer and Crystal Zeigler started the run with baskets and then Cecily Aldridge closed it out with back-to-back driving to the hoop layups.

          Millikin hit on 46 percent of its field goals while the Thunder connected on 44 percent.  The Big Blue connected on 8-14 (57 percent) from three point range.  Millikin out rebounded Wheaton 34-29.  Both teams had trouble holding onto the basketball with each team committing 25 turnovers.

          Millikin featured a balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures led by Wellbaum with 17 points and three assists.  Pruemer had 14 points, Aldridge had 13 and Julia Robert added 11.  Zeigler had a team high seven rebounds along with seven points.    

          The Thunder's top scorer was Lindsey Brenneman with 17 points.  Maris Hovee had a double double with 15 points and a team high 10 rebounds.

          Wheaton entered the game in a three way tie for second place two games ahead of Millikin.  The Big Blue are now 13-7, 5-4 while Wheaton goes to 13-7 and 6-3.  Millikin will try to climb up another step in the conference race when they host Carthage College on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 2 p.m. Starting the night Carthage and Elmhurst were the other teams tied for second.

          Saturday will be Millikin's annual PinkZone game with proceeds benefitting Decatur's Come Together Let's Walk anti-cancer effort.