The Millikin women's basketball team closed out the regular season with an 88-85 win over Carthage College on Senior Day at the Griswold Center in Decatur, Illinois on February 17.
Millikin ends the regular season 21-4, 13-3 and in third place in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). The Big Blue will be the three seed in the conference tournament and will host sixth seeded Elmhurst University on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in the opening round. If the Big Blue can win on Tuesday they will advance to the conference semifinals to be hosted by Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington, Illinois on Thursday, Feb. 22. The Championship game of the CCIW Tournament will be at the Shirk Center on Saturday, Feb. 24.
After the game was tied at 2-2, Millikin lead the rest of the way, but had to hold off a late rally by the Firebird to secure the victory. The Big Blue lead 25-20 after the first quarter and 47-36 at halftime. Millikin had its largest lead of the game at 18 points early in the third quarter before Carthage began to battle back. Millikin lead 72-60 at the end of the third quarter. The Firebirds outscored Millikin 25-16 in the fourth quarter fueled by going 6-9 from beyond the three-point line. Carthage started the fourth quarter with three-straight three-pointers with one actually being a three-pointer plus one to pull to within 76-73 with 7:55 left to play. The Firebirds used the long range bombs to hang close and a Marianna Morrissey three-pointer with 2:22 to play made it an 84-83 Millikin lead. Elyce Knudsen pushed the Millikin advantage back to three with two free throws. Two missed free throws by the Big Blue let Carthage pulled to within one at 86-85 with 22 seconds left in the game on two free throws by Marqueret Spear. Emily Brenneisen connected on two free throws with 16 seconds left to seal the Big Blue victory.
Millikin was led by three of its seniors with Knudsen leading the way with 32 points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists. It was the seventh time this season and 14th time in her career that Knudsen has scored more than 30 points in game. Sophie Darden had her 15th double double of the season with 22 points and 14 rebounds along with four steals. Bailey Coffman had 12 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Kyleigh Block came of the Millikin bench to score eight points.
Millikin honored four other seniors for their contributions to the program including Jacquelin Anderson, Sarah Isaf, Izzy Lambert and Gabbi Thomason.
Morrissey led the Firebirds with 29 points followed by Spear with 17.
Millikin shot 52 percent (33-63) from the field making 4-11 from three-point range. Carthage hit 51 percent (30-59) from the field and made 11-21 from three-point range. Millikin won the rebounding battle 34-27.