The Women’s Basketball team lost to Wheaton College, 53-67, on Wednesday night. 

Their first conference game and second home game of the year, the Big Blue hoped to open conference playing strong. However, they came up short, getting outscored by the Thunder in 3 of 4 quarters.

The team got off to a solid start, ending the first quarter with a 3-point lead, 13-10. Midway through the second quarter, the momentum started to turn in Wheaton’s favor, as the Big Blue went into the half losing 21-26. 

The third and fourth quarters showed more action in favor of Millikin, with the team pulling within 3 points. Unfortunately, the effort was not enough. A string of fouls and three-pointers helped the Thunder secure the win.

The Big Blue outrebounded Wheaton 37 to 29. Senior Emily White led the effort with 7 boards. Millikin also scored more bench points, 24 to Wheaton’s 6, led by sophomore Tatum Young. Young finished with a season-high 15 points, the only Millikin player to reach double digits.

Millikin gave up 16 turnovers, allowing Wheaton to capitalize and score 16 points off of them, along with 13 fast break points. As a team, they shot 39.7% from the field, and a mere 19% from behind the arc. 

Wheaton’s record improves to 5-3, 1-0 in conference play. Millikin falls to 1-5, 0-1 CCIW. 

The Big Blue will be back in action on Saturday, December 7, when they will travel to North Park to face another CCIW foe.