MADISON, Wis. - A career night from Alison Tobin wasn't enough for the Edgewood College women's basketball team in their home opener against Millikin Univeristy. Tobin tallied a career-high 21 points, but a 19-6 advantage for the Big Blue at the free throw line pushed Millikin to a 67-54 victory at the Todd Wehr Edgedome.
Shooting was a struggle for both teams in this early season contest. Edgewood College (0-3) hit just 36.4 percent from the field in the first half, but stayed close be forcing Millikin into 17 first half turnovers. Edgewood College grabbed a 22-20 lead on a bucket by Brooke McBain with less than five minutes remaining before halftime, but Millikin scored a jump shot from Ty Eubanks and a free throw by Brian Williams to take a 27-26 lead into the locker room.
The Eagles still only trailed Millikin University (1-2) 34-33 early in the second half after a pair of Mariah Hill free throws when the Big Blue gained control of the game. Millikin tallied a 12-2 run over the next five minutes to push their advantage to 46-35 with a little more than 10 minutes to play. The Big Blue still led 54-44 when the Eagles made their biggest surge of the night.
Tobin scored twice and Brooke Negus and Melanie Walker once each to trim Millikin's lead to 54-52 with 3:46 to go. However, with three different possessions to tie or tale the lead, the Eagles could only manage two turnovers and a missed three-point shot. From that point Millikin, who had struggled at the free throw line most of the game, hit 11 of 12 charity tosses down the stretch to seal the game.
Tobin went 9-for-10 from the field on her way to a new career-high in points. McBain was also a solid 4-for-4 from the field for eight points, but the rest of the Eagles struggled to find the hoop as the team finished at just 34.8 percent for the game.Chelsey Watkins set a new career-high in rebounds for the second consecutive game, pulling down 10 boards. Mariah Hillchipped in nine points.
Millikin was led by Brittany Czaplicki who did most of her damage at the free throw line, going 9-for-13 and finishing with 20 points. Williams added 14 points and seven rebounds. Millikin didn't shoot much better than the Eagles, hitting just 34.8 percent, but went to the free throw line 34 times, compared to just 10 for Edgewood College.
Edgewood College will get a fierce challenge in their next game, facing eighth-ranked UW-Whitwater on the road. The Eagles and Warhawks tip off Saturday at 5:00 at the Kachel Fieldhouse.