The Millikin women's basketball team picked up a victory in its own Holiday Classic defeating Earlham College 73-47 on December 20 at the Griswold Center in Decatur, Illinois.

         Millikin will face Simpson College in the Championship game at 4 p.m. on Saturday.  The Storm blew past Aurora University 95-53 in Friday's first game.  Aurora and Earlham will play Saturday at 2 p.m.

         Millikin continues to be hindered by slow starts to games.  The Big Blue shot just 33 percent in the first quarter committing nine turnovers and falling behind 14-10.  Millikin got things going in the second quarter outscoring the Quakers 22-10 to pull out to a 32-24 halftime advantage. 

         Millikin shot 55 percent from the field going 6-19 from three-point range.  The Big Blue left several points at the free throw line going 11-21.

Earlham shot 35 percent from the field and went 5-16 from three-point range.  Millikin won the rebounding battle 39-30.

         Millikin had four players in double figure scoring led by Jordan Hildebrand with 17 points and nine rebounds.  Briana Anthony added 13 points.  Aubrey Staton scored 11 points with three blocked shots.  Bailey Coffman chipped in 11 points and three rebounds.  Abby Ratsch had seven rebounds and three blocks while scoring four points.

         Kayla Bowling led Earlham with 15 points.

         Millikin is now 8-2 on the season while Earlham goes to 2-6.