DECATUR, Ill. – Millikin senior All-American Elyce Knudsen became the Big Blue Women’s Basketball all-time leading scorer on Saturday against Carroll University in the Griswold Center.
Knudsen entered the game with 2,008 career points, needing 10 points to be the team’s all-time leading scorer and breaking the record of 2,017 points held by Lindsay Ippel Douglass. Knudsen broke the record just before halftime and scored 38 points.
“My coaches have always said, ‘Make a mark they can't erase.’ This record is something they can't erase here at the University,” Knudsen said. “A final four and a national championship are my main goals, and they would also be something you can’t erase.”
Saturday’s game was the 13th time in Knudsen’s career she scored more than 30 points in a game. Knudsen now stands at 2,046 career points.
Knudsen kept the No. 16-ranked Big Blue close with Carroll on Saturday, but Millikin ultimately fell 80-75. The loss broke Millikin's 21-game home winning streak that extended over two seasons. Millikin is now 16-4 overall and 8-3 in CCIW play. Carroll improves to 15-4, 8-2, and moves into a first-place tie in the conference standings with Illinois Wesleyan, pending the Titans game tonight at Augustana. Millikin is one game back in the standings.
Millikin led after the first quarter 16-11, with the game tied 29-29 at halftime. Millikin led 51-49 heading into the fourth quarter. The Pioneers got hot in the final quarter, making 10-of-16 from the field and 2-of-3 from 3-point range. The Pioneers converted on 9-of-10 from the free-throw line.
Millikin’s Sophie Darden had her 10th double-double of the year with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Bailey Coffman had 10 points, three rebounds and three assists. Freshman Christina Rice had 10 points.
Millikin has three consecutive CCIW road games before returning to the Griswold Center on Feb. 14. The Big Blue next play North Park University on Wed., Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. in Chicago and then head to Wheaton College on Sat., Feb. 3 at 5 p.m. They face Augustana College on Sat., Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. On Wed., Feb. 14, Millikin faces North Central College at home at 7 p.m.
