Carthage 71, Millikin 55
DECATUR - The Carthage women's basketball team traveled to southern Illinois for the regular season finale against the Millikin Big Blue on Saturday afternoon. The Firebirds concluded  the regular season on a high note, coming away with a double digit win over the Big Blue. The win capped off a year with nine regular season conference wins, the most for the Firebirds since 2018-19.



Emma Thistle got the Firebirds rolling with a three point basket on the opening possession, and Elena Knebel followed up the score with a layup to boost the Firebirds out to an early 5-0 lead. The Firebirds offense took flight from behind the three point line in the middle of the quarter, with four consecutive threes coming from Malia Green, Thistle, Alyssa Oozco and Knebel. The Firebirds ended the first quarter with a 19-12 lead over the Big Blue. Thistle led the way with six points in the quarter.

Marianna Morrissey got the scoring started for the Firebirds in the second quarter, pushing the Carthage lead to 10 points. Back to back scores from Emma Carlson and Green extended the lead to 26-12 with 7:17 left in the first half. A pair of threes for the Big Blue cut the deficit to eight points before a jumper from Carlson and a three from Thistle brought the Firebirds right back to a 13 point lead. The Big Blue found themselves in foul trouble late in the quarter, as Carthage went 5-7 from the free throw line in the final 67 seconds of the quarter to take a 39-27 lead into the half. Green and Thistle each finished with five points in the quarter, while Thistle registered a team high 10 points in the half.

The Big Blue opened the second half with a three pointer to cut the Carthage lead to nine. Thistle responded immediately with a layup to bring the score to 41-30. A layup and a free throw for Carlson and a three from Thistle extended the lead to 17 points with 6:25 left in the quarter. The Firebirds entered the fourth quarter with a 51-37 lead over Millikin. It was the Emma Show in the third quarter for the Firebirds as Carlson and Thistle combined for 10 of the 12 points registered by Carthage in the period.

The two sides traded baskets throughout the first half of the fourth quarter until Morrissey scored six straight points to build the Carthage lead to 63-46 with 4:27 to play. Grace Wamser converted an and-one three point play to give the Firebirds a 20 point lead with 2:28 to play in the game. The Big Blue attempted a comeback in the final two minutes, but the Firebirds came away with a 16 point road win.


 

• Thistle shined with 18 points, shooting 5-9 from the field and 4-6 from behind the three point line. The senior was perfect at the free throw line and registered five rebounds and three assists.
• Morrissey finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and two assists.
• Carlson registered 11 points, and team highs with 10 rebounds and 3 blocks.
• Green finished with 11 points.
• Knebel scored 10 points and registered three rebounds.

"I'm really proud of how hard our team played," said Head Coach Megan Jones. "The last two days we talked about earning the opportunity to play at home on Tuesday and they certainly earned that today. Rebounding was the difference maker in this game. When we played them the first time they outrebounded us by 10, and today we outrebounded them by 16. Defensively we did a great job taking away their downhill drive and kick for 3. Really proud of our effort and excited to have a game in Tarble on Tuesday. We would love to see the Firepit packed!"



The Firebirds (17-8, 9-7 CCIW) have secured the no. 3 seed and will host no. 6 Millikin in the opening round of the CCIW Tournament in Tarble Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.