The 24th ranked Millikin women's basketball team defeated Illinois Wesleyan University 82-65 at the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Illinois on February 8.

The win improves Millikin to 18-4 overall and 12-1 and in first place in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. With three games left to play, Millikin holds a two-game lead over second place Carroll University.

The Big Blue started strong and lead 27-7 at the end of the first quarter. Millikin made 10-19 from the field in the first quarter including converting on 5-9 from three-point range. Millikin never trailed in the game and lead 45-26 at halftime. The Titans made runs in the second and third quarters, but Millikin always answered the Illinois Wesleyan runs. The closest the Titans got after the first quarter was nine points at 47-38 with 6:42 left in the third quarter. Millikin went on its own 7-0 run to push the lead back to 16 points.

Millikin shot 45.6 percent (31-68) from the field and made 13-28 (46.4) percent from three-point range. Millikin Wesleyan shot 41.3 percent (26-63) from the field and made 5-15 from three-point range. The Titans shot over 40 percent in each of the last three quarters, but could never recover from the first quarter when they went 2-12 from the field. Millikin forced the Titans into 22 turnovers while committing only nine. Illinois Wesleyan won the rebounding battle 49-29.

Millikin's top scorer was Elyce Knudsen with 28 points. Bailey Coffman had 16 points and five rebounds. Emily White added 11 points.

Lauren Huber led the Titans with 16 points.

Illinois Wesleyan falls to 13-10, 8-6.

Millikin will play at Carthage College on Saturday, February 11. Millikin's final home game of the regular season is on Wednesday, February 15 vs. Elmhurst University at 7 p.m.