WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Carroll University women's basketball team's program-best 16-game home winning streak ends at the hands of Millikin University on Saturday with a 49-58 loss.
Olivia Rangel led with 16 points. The Pioneers celebrated the careers of seniors
Katie Evans,
Kate Christian,
Brooke Foster,
Jess Prater, and
Megan Madsen.
The Pioneers (17-8, 12-4 CCIW) held the Big Blue to under 40% shooting but Carroll shot just 32.8% all game, including 11.8% in the fourth quarter. the Pios had just nine points off the bench, all from
Natalie Gricius. Carroll did however force 18 Big Blue turnovers with eight steals and gained 22 points off turnovers.
The Pioneers and Big Blue began the game by trading baskets after Carroll quickly went up 5-2. Millikin rallied to a 6-0 run that Rangel was able to stop with a steal and a fast break layup. Rangel knocked down a three-pointer to cut it to two at the end of the first quarter. Gricius scored a layup to knot up the game at 15-15 early on. Evans scored her first points on a three-pointer to re-tie the game with 6:25 to go in the first half. Millikin's lead grew to eight after a three-pointer, but four straight points and a block from
Allison Thompson brought the deficit back down to four. The Big Blue responded to a Carroll three with a minute left and went into halftime up 34-31.
Rangel and Foster scored the first points for the Pioneers in the second half, and Rangel quickly gave Carroll the lead with her next basket. Millikin carried out a 6-0 run but Carroll responded twice more and got their deficit back down to one possession. Gricius scored on a second-chance basket to tie the game at 44-44 leading into the fourth quarter. The Pioneers went cold in the fourth quarter, not scoring a basket until there was only 4 minutes left in the game. Millikin had used that time to take a six-point lead. Evans had gotten the Pioneers back to within one after five straight points, but Millikin gathered four second-chance points inside of five minutes left and knocked down free throws as Carroll struggled to make a basket.
Carroll will prepare for the 2023 CCIW Women's Basketball Tournament next week after a quarterfinals bye. The Pioneers will play the highest remaining seed after Tuesday's games in Decatur, Friday, February 24 at 5 PM.
