The Carthage women's basketball team (11-5, 4-1 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) lost its first conference game of the year on Saturday, Jan. 17 with a 75-61 loss to Millikin University (12-4, 3-2 CCIW) at Tarble Arena in Kenosha, Wis.  With the loss, the Lady Reds fell back into a first-place tie with both Wheaton College (Ill., 14-2, 4-1 CCIW) and North Central College (15-1, 4-1).

Millikin went ahead two minutes into the game and opened up a 10-point lead, 23-13, at 6:41 first half.  The Big Blue extended their lead to as much as 13 points on three occasions in the period, including a 37-24 lead at halftime.  The Lady Reds cut the lead to six points, 38-32, at 16:29 second period, but 9-0 Big Blue run upped the margin to 15 points, 47-32, at 13:14, and Millikin was never seriously threatened again.  The Big Blue led by as much as 18 points, 58-40, at 7:04 and went on to win by 14, 75-61.

Millikin shot 44 percent (24-54), including five-of-11 from three-point range, while Carthage shot just 36 percent (20-56), including seven-of-26 three-pointers.  The Big Blue got to the free-throw line 27 times and made 22 for an 82 percent mark, while the Lady Reds connected on 14-of-21.  Millikin out-rebounded Carthage by a 43-30 margin.

Four Big Blue players scored in double figures, with Alyssa Saklak leading the way with 22 points on six-of-13 field goals, along with nine-of-10 free throws and a game-high 10 rebounds.  Holly Haskins had 12 points, five rebounds and five assists.  Kelsey Going scored 13 points with eight rebounds off the bench, and Devin Curry added 10 points, also off the bench.  Erin Thomas (Jr., Spring Grove, Ill./Richmond-Burton) led Carthage with 12 points and three assists.  Kasey Kleiner (Sr., South Milwaukee, Wis./Somers-Shoreland Lutheran) had 11 points, and Erin Quinn (Sr., Island Lake, Ill./Mundelein-Carmel Catholic) added 10 points.

"You can't disrespect how the game is supposed to be played," said Carthage coach Tim Bernero.  "We stood around and let Millikin beat us up in the post, and watched them rebound the ball.  We didn't do what we set out to do, and we didn't execute the way we needed to.  Millikin did—give them credit.  We did very little to keep them from scoring.  They got the shots they wanted, and they made them.  You can't keep playing like we have and expect to win every time.  Millikin is high-quality opponent, and the league is tough.  We'll see if we're up to the challenge, especially as the schedule turns to more road games." 

Carthage travels to Naperville, Ill., on Wednesday, Jan. 21 to play conference-opponent North Central College (15-1, 4-1 CCIW) in 7 p.m. game at Merner Fieldhouse/Gregory Arena.