A strong fourth quarter lifted the Millikin women's basketball team to a 91-80 win at North Park University in Chicago on January 8. The Big Blue improve to 11-3 on the season and are 5-0 and in first place in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.

The first three quarters of the game were a tight battle with five lead changes and seven ties in the game. North Park led 17-12 at the end of the first quarter and 44-40 at halftime. The Big Blue had a 64-62 lead after three quarters and then out scored the Vikings 27-18 in the fourth quarter to pull out the victory. Millikin shot 11-17 (65 percent) from the field in the fourth quarter.

The game was tied for the final time at 61-61 with 1:51 left in the third quarter. Bailey Coffman hit a three-pointer to give Millikin the lead, which they would never relinquish.

North Park made one final run early in the fourth quarter pulling to 68-67 with 8:23 left in the game on a basket by Olivia Reed. The Big Blue would then go on a 16-2 run to break the game open leading 84-69 with 3:14 remaining in the game.

Elyce Knudsen led the Millikin attack with a career high 33 points. Coffman finished with 22 points followed by Aubrey Staton with 11. Jordan Hildebrand had team highs in rebounds and assists with seven each and scored six points.

The Big Blue shot 59 percent (35-59) from the field and 5-16 from three-point range. The game was tightly officiated and the Big Blue took advantage from the free throw line making 16-19. North Park was 29-50 (58 percent) from the field and made 10-17 (59 percent) from three-point range. The Vikings struggled at the line making 12-19.

Lauren Lee led North Park with 24 points making 6-8 from three-point range. Emily Czuhajewski added 20 points for the Vikings.

North Park is now 9-3