DECATUR, Ill. – The Carroll University women's basketball team was slowed down by the Millikin Big Blue on Saturday afternoon in Decatur, falling 59-73. Elizabeth Behrndt scored 14 points to lead the team, while Kate Christian followed up with 10.
 
The Pioneers (14-6, 6-6 CCIW) started the game with 22 points in the first quarter but failed to score over 20 points in any other period the rest of the game. Carroll's bench led by Chloe Halverson's eight points outscored the Big Blue bench 23-18. The Pioneers failed to out-rebound Millikin and only came away with eight steals despite forcing 24 turnovers.
 
Carroll and Millikin went back-and-forth to begin the game, as a three-point play from Behrndt gave her five early points in the first two minutes. Behrndt knocked down a pair of free throws to even up the game at 9 apiece soon thereafter. The Big Blue stretched out to a four-point lead, but Brooke Foster knocked down a triple to cut the deficit to one with 2:10 remaining in the period. A foster layup in the paint with 19 seconds left tied the game at the end of the first quarter.  Behrndt scored nine of her 14 points in just 6:11 of the first quarter.
 
Carroll scored six points quickly in the second quarter, sparked by a Katie Evans three-pointer to take their largest lead of the game. A 13-0 Millikin run put them back in the driver seat, but the run was stopped by an Olivia Rangel three-point shot. An 8-0 run at the end of the second period put the Big Blue up 11 going into halftime. The Pioneers were able to switch to a zone midway through the third quarter and held Millikin to just 14 points, but the Pioneers were only able to score eight points, led by Halverson's four in the quarter. Christian and the Pioneers outscored Millikin in the final quarter, but it was too little too late as Carroll turned the ball over six times in the final 10 minutes.
 
The Pioneers have three of their final four games left this regular season at home, starting Wednesday night against Elmhurst in Van Male Field House. Carroll's win over Elmhurst back in December sparked their season-high seven-game winning streak.