ELMHURST, Ill. – The Elmhurst College women's basketball team led by as many as 13 points but the Bluejays could not hold off a fourth quarter rally from Millikin, falling to the Big Blue 79-72 at R.A. Faganel Hall.
 
Millikin led by as many as eight points in the opening quarter after the Big Blue used an 11-2 run late in the quarter to grab a 22-14 lead. A Kellee Clay bucket before the end of the quarter cut Millikin's lead down to six (22-16) after the opening 10 minutes.
 
Elmhurst turned the tables on Millikin in the second quarter. The Bluejays outscored the Big Blue 28-11 while building a 44-33 lead at the half. Trailing by two with seven minutes to play in the half, Elmhurst ripped of a 13-0 run to grab a 37-26 lead with just over three minutes remaining. Millikin cut the deficit down to eight with 1:34 remaining but a jumper from Becca Gerke and a three-pointer from Sophia Lathe gave the Bluejays a 13-pointt lead with just under 30 seconds left on the clock. A late bucket from Millikin cut Elmhurst's lead down to 11 at halftime.
 
Millikin rallied back in the third quarter. Trailing by 11 with seven minutes left, the Big Blue rattled off the next eight points to close to within three points. Leading by just four with 1:27 left in the quarter, Elmhurst scored the final four points of the quarter to carry a 60-52 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Millikin started quickly in the fourth quarter, opening the first five minutes on a 16-3 run to surge in front 68-63. Elmhurst pulled to within one on three separate occasions and trailed by just one with 1:17 left to play, but Millikin hit its final six free throws to pull away for the seven-point win.
 
Elmhurst outshot Millikin 46.7 percent (28-of-60) to 42.1 percent (24-of-57). Both teams hit just 25.0 percent from three-point distance. Millikin finished 28-of-37 from the foul line and also cashed in on 16 Elmhurst turnovers, converting the giveaways into 28 points. The Big Blue also made the most of their second chances, turning 12 offensive rebounds into 18 second chance points. Millikin outscored Elmhurst 18-2 in second chance points.
 
Clay led Elmhurst in the loss with 19 points, shooting 8-of-12 from the floor. Marissa Urso, Courtney O'Donnell and Kween Jean all tallied nine points apiece while Lauren Goff finished with eight.
 
Elmhurst struggled to slow down Millikin's Yanni Saddler. Saddler finished with a game-high 30 points, shooting 8-of-15 from the floor and 12-of-14 from the foul line. Jordan Hildebrand added a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Aubrey Straton tallied 12 points and nine boards while Briana Anthony finished with 11 points for Millikin.
 
Elmhurst travels to Augustana College on Wednesday, January 30.