WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Carroll University women's basketball team kept close with the Millikin Big Blue for much of the first three quarters but fell in the fourth quarter by a score of 56-72 at Van Male Field House. Brooke Foster scored a team-high 14 points, including 4-7 from three. Elizabeth Behrndt finished with her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 14 rebounds, seven of which were offensive boards.
 
The Pioneers (5-3, 0-3 CCIW) drop their third straight after starting the season undefeated. The Pioneers shot 32.8% from the floor and 9-30 from the three-point line. Carroll grabbed the most offensive rebounds in a game this season with 22, to go along with 18 defensive boards. The offensive rebounds in turn led to 17 second-chance Pioneer points. Carroll's bench outscored Millikin 24-23, with 14 from Foster and 7 from Natalie Palzkill. 2020-21 first-team all-conference selection Kate Christian returned to the Carroll rotation from injury, playing 16 minutes off the bench.
 
Behrndt scored Carroll's first four points just over three minutes into the game and already had four rebounds on a second chance opportunity in the paint. In a low-scoring first quarter, Carroll took a 12-10 lead with 26 seconds remaining after two Foster free throws. Theresa Wichser (12 PTS, Career-high 17 3PA) made her first three of the night to tie the game 17-17 in the second quarter. Down five points with 6:23 left in the half, Wichser nailed two more to give Carroll a one-point lead. Carroll took a one-point lead going into halftime thanks to a last-second driving layup made by Olivia Rangel (5 PTS, 6 REB, 4 AST).
 
Carroll started the third quarter up five within the first minute of the half. Millikin had cut the lead to one with 6:09 left in the third quarter, but a Foster three gave Carroll a 40-36 lead a possession later. The Big Blue tied the ball game with 3:05 left in the third quarter and started a 6-2 run to end the period up four points. Carroll quickly found themselves down nine, a Foster three gave Carroll a fighting chance, but another three-point basket by Millikin on the next possession quieted the Van Male crowd. Millikin finished the last 5:15 of the game on a 13-6 run, with the only baskets of the final quarter coming from the hot hand of Foster.
 
Carroll will have a week of rest and prep before squaring off at Elmhurst on December 18 at 2 PM.