DECATUR, Ill. - Carroll's women's basketball team resumed conference play Saturday afternoon, defeating Millikin 77-68 in a hard-fought road contest. The Pioneers shot 45 percent (28-62) from the field, while scoring 23 points on 17 Millikin turnovers.

The first half was very tightly contested, featuring eight lead changes. Carroll (8-5, 3-1 CCIW) scored the first six points of the contest, before Millikin (2-10, 1-2 CCIW) then proceeded to score nine of the next 11 points to take a 9-8 advantage. The two teams traded baskets for the majority of the opening quarter, ending the period tied at 13. With the score tied at 17 in the second quarter, Carroll began to pull away, ending the period on a 20-11 run to take a 37-28 halftime lead.

The Pios continued to lead by double digits for half of the third quarter, before Millikin went on an 11-2 run to cut the lead to a single point in the final minutes of the period. Leading by two entering the final frame, Carroll immediately gained some breathing room, going on an 11-2 run to build an 11-point lead with seven minutes remaining. Millikin would only pull within five points the rest of the way.

Preseason All-American Olivia Rangel led the Pios with a game-high 27 points, while completing a double-double with 12 rebounds, which was just one shy of her career-high. Natalie Gricius added 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers, while Emilie Wizner chipped in with 10 points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting. The Pioneers committed just 12 turnovers in the contest.

Millikin was led by Nikkel Johnson's 19 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Emily Brenneisen and Kyleigh Block added 14 and 12 points, respectively, while each also recorded four boards. The Pioneers will be in action again on Wednesday when they'll host North Park University. That game will begin at 7 p.m. at Van Male Fieldhouse in Waukesha.