The Millikin women's basketball team defeated Illinois College to give Big Blue Head Women's Basketball Coach Lori Kerans her 500th career victory.  The win came on Dec. 15 at Fontbonne University in St. Louis, Mo. during the annual Tri-Conference Tournament.

          Kerans becomes the 15th active NCAA Division III women's basketball coach to reach 500 victories and the 19th women's coach all-time in Division III to reach that esteemed coaching mark.  Kerans is the first women's basketball coach in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin to reach the coveted 500 victory mark.

          The game was tied 34-34 at the half after a back and forth half.  Millikin got things going in the second half out scoring Illinois College 20-10 over the first 10 minutes of the half.  The Big Blue maintained a double digit advantage until the game's final two minutes when the Lady Blues made a final push.

          Millikin shot 38 percent from the field while Illinois College hit on 36 percent of its shots.  Illinois College had 49 rebounds with the Big Blue pulling down 41.  Millikin forced Illinois College into 21 turnovers.

          Brittany Czaplicki led Millikin with a career high 21 points and five rebounds.  Moli Copple added 10.  Freshman Alyssa Saklak led the Big Blue with six rebounds.

          Hannah McGinnis and Brittany Burgess each had 12 points for the Lady Blues.

          Millikin is now 4-4 on the season will host St. Mary's College on Thursday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. in the Griswold Center.  Illinois College goes to 4-5 on the year.