DECATUR, Ill. – Though the Illinois College women's basketball team was able to do almost anything it wanted to in the paint, the Lady Blues fell in a tight battle with Millikin University on Sunday afternoon, 82-79. The Lady Blues combined for 62 points in the game between the paint and the charity stripe, but the Big Blue hit their free throws in the critical moments to escape with the win in a game that featured 28 lead changes. IC falls to 3-3 overall on the season heading into Midwest Conference play.
The first quarter started fairly slowly for both sides, with Illinois College finally notching the first point of the game on a
Sydney Lett free throw after more than 90 seconds of play. Things picked up as the quarter went along and Millikin was able to take its largest lead of the first half at three points, but a
Brielle Greenleaf layup late in the frame cut Illinois College's deficit to just 14-13 after 10 minutes.
In the second quarter, the Lady Blues took their largest lead of the game at 27-20 after going on an 8-0 run that featured a pair of buckets from both Greenleaf and
Grace Yaunches. Millikin regrouped and cut IC's lead down to one, 29-28, at the break.
A quick start to the third quarter gave Illinois College a 35-29 advantage, but Millikin responded with a 7-0 run out of a timeout to get the lead right back. Greenleaf had a twisting and-one layup to give IC a 40-36 lead, but the Big Blue were able to take a 53-52 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
The lead swung back and forth throughout the early minutes of the fourth quarter. A
Junie Zirkelbach jumper gave Illinois College a 60-57 edge, only for Yanni Saddler to come down and nail consecutive three-pointers to give Millikin a 63-60 lead with just over six minutes to play. In the closing minutes, Yaunches took over for offensively, scoring six straight points to answer Millikin scores. Her two free throws with just under a minute to play gave IC a 74-73 lead.
Down on other end, Sadler drew a foul on Illinois College and converted two free throws. Those two shots would turn out to give Millikin the lead for good as the Big Blue hit 9-of-10 from the free-throw line in the final minute of play. Trailing 80-76, Yaunches hit a last-gasp three to cut Millikin's lead back to one with just seconds remaining. After Sadler again hit two at the line, the Lady Blues had a shot at the buzzer to tie it, but Yaunches' desperation shot was short to seal it for the Big Blue.
Greenleaf hit 11-of-16 shots on the afternoon and all five of her free throws for a team-high 27 points. Yaunches' late flurry helped her end the day with 17 points.
Sydney Lett had 13 points and tied for the team lead with six rebounds before fouling out late in the contest.
Illinois College opens MWC play on Nov. 30, traveling to face Lawrence University. Tip-off in Appleton, Wis. is set for 5:30 p.m.
