The #16 Millikin women's basketball used a strong second half to take down 11th ranked Illinois Wesleyan University 94-77 on January 24 in Decatur to move into a first place tie in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW).

It was the second time in seven days that the Big Blue defeated the Titans. Millikin is now 16-3 overall and 8-2 in conference. Illinois Wesleyan is now 15-4, 8-2. Millikin will host Carroll University on Saturday, January 27 at 2 p.m. The Pioneers are 7-2 in conference play after having its bye week on Wednesday.

Millikin senior All-American Elyce Knudsen spurred Millikin second half push scoring 20 of her game high 29 points. The performance put Knudsen past the 2,000 career points milestone. She now has 2,008 points and needs 10 points to become Millikin's all-time leading scorer surpassing Lindsay Ippel's 2,017 points.

Millikin led 17-14 after the first quarter and had 41-40 advantage at halftime. The Big Blue outscored the Titans 34-16 in the third quarter to break open the game. Millikin shot 68 percent (15-22) from the field in the quarter while holding the Titans to 3-16 (19 percent). The Big Blue closed out the game going 8-14 (57 percent) in the fourth quarter. For the game Millikin shot 52 percent (39-75) from the field and made 6-18 (33 percent) from three-point range. Illinois Wesleyan was 26-71 (37 percent) from the field and went 5-17 from behind the arc. The Big Blue won the rebounding battle 48-32.

Knudsen finished with 29 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Sophie Darden had 15 points and nine rebounds. Bailey Coffman had 13 points with eight boards. Matayia Tellis added 11 for the Big Blue.

Illinois Wesleyan's top scorer waws Ava Bardic with 18 point followed by Lauren Huber with 14.