The Carthage College women's basketball team (14-2, 5-0 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin), ranked 14th in the Jan. 14 "D3hoops.com" poll and 14th in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association/USA Today NCAA Division III poll, won a tough road game over CCIW-opponent Millikin University (6-10, 0-5 CCIW), 73-63, on Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Griswold Center in Decatur, Ill.
Carthage remains in a first-place tie in the CCIW with Illinois Wesleyan University (11-5, 5-0). The Titans defeated second-place Wheaton College (Ill., 12-3, 3-2), 93-85, on Saturday in Wheaton, Ill.
Carthage opened an early, 12-2 lead at 13:23. The Big Blue pulled to within three, 12-9, at 10:32, before the Lady Reds took off on an 18-5 run to take a 16-point lead, 30-14, at 2:54. Carthage led by 11 points at halftime, 32-21. Millikin pulled to within six points in the second half, 40-34, at 13:06 and again at 52-46 at 7:25. A three-point play by Kristi Schmidt at 4:07 put the Lady Reds back up by 14 points, 62-48, and Carthage went on to win by 10 points, 73-63.
Carthage shot 49 percent (28-57), including three-of-10 from three-point range, while Millikin shot 35 percent (23-66), including five-of-16 three-pointers. The Lady Reds had a narrow, 40-38 rebounding edge over the Big Blue. Carthage was 14-of-25 from the free-throw line, while Millikin converted 12-of-15.
Four Carthage players scored in double figures. Stephanie Kuzmanic (Sr., Mount Prospect, Ill./Wheeling) led the way with 21 points on nine-of-18 field goals, along with six rebounds and four assists. Kristi Schmidt (Sr., Bloomington, Ill./Normal-Community) scored 18 points on five-of-nine shooting and eight-of-10 free throws, along with six boards. Michelle Wenzel (Sr., Darien, Wis./Delavan-Darien) had a "double-double" with 14 points on six-of-10 field goals and a game-high 14 rebounds, and Alexis Hahn (So. Itasca, Ill./Roselle-Lake Park).came off the bench to add 12 points and four rebounds. Jasmine Johnson led Millikin with 17 points on six-of-12 shooting and eight boards, while Yip Ypya chipped in 12 points.
"We know how they play, defensively," said Carthage coach Tim Bernero "and we didn't handle it as well as we usually do. Give them credit, but we were so indecisive, offensively. We turned the ball over 16 times against a half-court defense, and that's not good. Millikin also kicked our tail on the offensive boards most of the night. Our job is to adjust to that kind of game, and we kind of let it happen most of the night. Millikin took advantage of that. On the other hand, even though I didn't think we played very well on the offensive end, we still shot 49 percent. The free-throw thing is becoming irritating, though. Shooting 56 percent is going to get you one of these times. Millikin did what they set out to do better than we did."
Carthage plays host to conference-opponent Elmhurst College (10-6, 2-3 CCIW) on Wednesday, Jan. 22 in a 7 p.m. game at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis.