The Millikin women's basketball team opened its 2016-17 season with an 82-60 win over Monmouth College on November 15 at the Griswold Center in Decatur, Illinois.

          Millikin opened the game with a three pointer from Cassie Somers and never trailed in the game.  The Big Blue were up 35-27 at the half and blew the game open in the third quarter outscoring Monmouth by 11 to build a 63-46 lead.

          Millikin shot 45 percent from the field compared to Monmouth's 35 percent.  The major difference in the game was from three point range where the Big Blue went 14-24 (58 percent) while the Fighting Scots hit only 2-15 (13 percent).  Millikin won the rebounding battle 40-35.

          Millikin was led in scoring by sophomore Yanni Sadler with a career high 23 points.  Sadler was 4-4 from three point range.  She added seven rebounds and three assists.  Junior Devin Curry added 17 points.  Junior transfer Lauren Moses had an impressive debut for the Big Blue with a double double scoring 10 points and grabbing a game high 11 rebounds.  Senior Rachael Weber had nine points and seven assists.  Somers scored nine points hitting all three pointers she attempted.

          Monmouth got a team high 21 points and 10 rebounds from Maddie Dohleman.

          Millikin will host the CCIW vs. SLIAC Challenge on Nov. 18-19.  The Big Blue women play each day at 5 p.m. starting with Westminster College on Friday.