Millikin 77, Carthage 67
DECATUR, Ill. - The Carthage women's basketball team traveled to Illinois for a Saturday CCIW contest against the Millikin Big Blue. After an evenly matched opening quarter, the Big Blue used a strong second quarter to pull ahead and claim the victory over the Firebirds.



Alyssa Orozco scored on the opening possession of the game to give the Firebirds an early 2-0 lead, which turned into a 3-2 deficit as the Big Blue responded with a three-point basket from Tatum Young. The two teams traded the lead back and forth throughout the first quarter, with the score tied at 13-13 with four minutes to play. The Firebirds closed out the quarter on a 7-4 run to take a 20-17 lead into the second quarter. Orozco led the Firebirds with nine points in the opening period.

Whitney Thompson scored on an offensive rebound tip-in to open the scoring in the second quarter for the Firebirds, extending the lead to 22-17. Scores from Grace Cord and Malia Green extended the lead to seven points with 7:33 to play in the first half. The Big Blue rallied back with a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to a singular point at 26-25 with six minutes left in the second quarter. A three from Bella Dudley gave the Big Blue the lead for the first time since the start of the second quarter. The three pointer sparked a 14-2 run for the Big Blue, extending the lead to 38-29. Millikin held a 40-33 lead at the half. Ahram led the Firebirds with four points in the quarter, while Orozco led the team with 11 points in the half.

A pair of scores for Cord cut the Firebirds deficit to three points to start the second half. The two squads traded points for the first six minutes of the third quarter before the Big Blue used an 11-1 run to end the quarter with a 59-46 lead. 

Cord got the offense going once again to open the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 11 points. Another run for the Big Blue built back the lead to 16 points at 66-50 with 6:30 to play. An 8-0 run for the Firebirds brought Carthage back within eight points of the lead with 3:06 left in the game, but the Big Blue held their distance to claim a 10 point victory over the Firebirds.


 

• Malia Green - 19 points*, 5 steals*, 3 assists*, 8-19 FG*
• Alyssa Orozco - 17 points, 5 rebounds*, 2-6 3PT*
• Nora Ahram - 10 points, 4 rebounds

*led team in stat category



"All the credit to Millikin today," said Head Coach Megan Jones. "They wanted it more than our team and it showed in how hard they played. They played physical and aggressive and we struggled to handle that today. The CCIW is a battle every night and we have to find consistency in how we approach every game."



The Firebirds (8-8, 2-5 CCIW) return to Tarble Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 21 as the squad hosts Illinois Wesleyan at 7 p.m., which will be featured live on Marquee Sports Network. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.