KENOSHA, Wis. – The Carthage College Lady Reds used a huge fourth quarter comeback to win their first game in over a month and their first of 2016, topping Millikin University Saturday, January 2nd, 67-64, at Tarble Arena.
 
The win snaps a seven game losing streak and improves the Lady Reds' record on the season to 5-7, and more importantly to 1-0 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.  For the Big Blue, the loss drops Millikin to 7-5 on the season and 0-1 to start the CCIW season.
 
Morgan Harris once again led the Lady Reds in scoring, recording her fourth straight double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds.  Erin Thomas had her best game since coming back from a concussion suffered in late November, going 5-of-11 from the field for 15 points in 38 minutes.
 
A tightly played first half saw the Lady Reds lead for only a few minutes in the opening two quarters, but never by more than a single point.   However, the Big Blue took a 32-30 lead into the locker room at the break as Bailey Gilbert nailed a three at the buzzer
 
Foul trouble plagued the Carthage frontcourt in the half as Morgan Vukovich and Rachel Szydlowski each picked up three fouls and Mandy Hozzian was whistled for two.
 
In the third, Millikin built an early five point lead which didn't last as Carthage were able to fight back and take a two-point lead with 7:08 remaining in the quarter on a layup by Thomas.  The lead would be short lived, as Millikin closed the third quarter on an 18-6 run to take a 10 point lead into the fourth after leading by as many as 12.
 
The Lady Reds then began their comeback slowly which was aided by a strong defensive effort that held Millikin to just 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting in the fourth quarter. 
 
The Lady Reds used their size and ability to driveto the basket to cut into the deficit with 12 points in the paint in the fourth.  The comeback was completed with 1:37 remaining as Morgan Harris splashed a three to put Carthage up one, 62-61.  Gilbert and Harris sealed the win down the stretch converting at the free throw line, combined to go 5-of-6 from the line in the final minute.
 
As a team the Lady Reds had their best game from the charity stripe since the beginning of the season as Carthage went 15-of-18 from the line for 83.3-percent. 
 
Prior to Saturday's win, Carthage had not won a game since November 29th when the Lady Reds topped the University of Chicago, 64-57.
 
Next, Carthage will begin a three game swing on the road within the CCIW beginning with a trip to North Park University at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6th.