FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
Box Score
DECATUR, Ill. (Feb. 5, 2011)--A pair of free throws with one second left lifted host Millikin University past North Central College, 59-58, on Saturday afternoon in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin women's basketball game at the Griswold Center.
The Cardinals (6-14, 2-7 CCIW) grabbed their first lead of the afternoon with 59 seconds remaining off an
Emily Collins three, extending their edge to two at 57-55 on a
Jackie Errico free throw with 40 ticks left. Millikin's (15-5, 7-2 CCIW) Elise Wildman tied the contest with 24 seconds left on a layup before an Errico free throw put the Cardinals back up by one with 18 seconds left.
Millikin's shot on the ensuing possession was no good but Crystal Zeigler was fouled while grabbing the rebound with one second left, sending her to the free throw line. Zeigler sunk both shots from the charity stripe to help the Big Blue survive, pulling out the 59-58 victory.
The Big Blue enjoyed a six-point 29-23 lead at the halftime break, scoring six of the half's final eight points after the Cardinals whittled an eight-point deficit to just two on a pair of Errico free throws with 3:39 remaining.
Millikin led by as many as 11 points in the second half off a Wildman layup with 17:55 to go before the Cardinals stormed back to within three off a
Sophie Newson three with just under 16 minutes left. The Big Blue ballooned their lead to nine with 7:19 left before the Cardinals scored the next 11 to take a two-point edge with 40 seconds left.
Errico paced the Cardinals with 22 points and seven rebounds while
Sophie Newson added 10 points and a team-high four assists. Collins and
Jenny Swanson each chipped in seven points.
Cholewick and Wildman each finished with 14 points for the Big Blue while Crystal Zeigler had seven points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
North Central returns to the hardwood on Tuesday, Feb. 8, hosting North Park University at 7:30 p.m. inside Gregory Arena.
