Game Notes: (WBK) Millikin University @ North Central College (2/8/17)

Final Score
NCC 89, Millikin 73

Game Summary
The outcome of this game wasn't in a ton of doubt, as the Cardinals (11-10, 5-7) caught fire from beyond the arc early, hitting three straight threes to open up a seven point lead. But the Big Blue (9-13, 3-10) hung around a bit, narrowing the gap to four before the Cardinals caught fire again, leading by as many as 13 before finishing the quarter up 28-20. The Cardinals scored the first three points of the second quarter, but went on a little dry spell as Millikin pulled back within six before the Cardinals pushed the lead back to double digits. The Big Blue scored the final five points of the half to make it 47-39 going into the break. Millikin actually made it a one possession game at one point at 49-46 before going on an extended 17-4 run to break the game open. The Big Blue got the lead down to five early in the fourth quarter, but would get no closer as the Cardinals pulled away late.

Key Stats

• Anita Sterling (NCC): 6-15 FG (5-11 3PT), 4-6 FT; 21 pts, 7 reb (1 off), 2 blk, 3 stl. On the night of a rare start, it looked early on like it was going to be a record breaking night for Anita, as she was absolutely unconscious from outside. She hit her first four looks from deep, missed one, then hit another late in the opening quarter. I looked up the school records in the second quarter to prepare to mention a record night in terms of made threes, but Anita struggled the rest of the night from deep. Fortunately, she did some damage driving and at the line, and was a force on defense and on the glass as well.
• Jamie Cuny (NCC): 5-13 FG (3-10 3PT), 3-3 FT; 16 pts, 7 reb (4 off). Jamie wasn't able to block a shot last night, but she picked up Anita's slack when she got cold from deep. She struggled early on, but started to hit her shots as the game went on, and was a relatively steadying force at the free throw line, something this team has lacked much of the year.
• Emily Schultz (MIL): 14-21 FG, 1-2 FT; 29 pts, 8 reb (3 off), 1 blk. Schultz pretty much singlehandedly kept the Big Blue in the game. She was able to consistently get good looks out of traps, and despite some contested shots, was constantly hitting 10-foot jumpers. I do think she started to tire a little as the game went on as she started to miss a little bit, and eventually fouled out with about a minute and a half to play.

North Central System Watch

• Millikin Turnovers: 35. This was one of two keys that kept Millikin from being able to get over the hump. They struggled all night against the press, getting a bunch of unforced turnovers, but the Cardinals were able to log 16 steals, led by three apiece from Sterling and Selena Juarez, while Natali Dimitrova and Maddie McHugh each recorded two. Millikin also turned the ball over on a pair of five second calls and a ten second call (though they probably should have had more five second calls; one of the baseline officials was ridiculously slow in his five count). This number is also a little padded by a backcourt violation on the Big Blue that was an atrocious call, as the Millikin player stole the ball and successfully navigated the time line.
• NCC 3PT: 16-52 (30.8%). Given the team's struggles for significant stretches this season, I'll take a 30 percent night. This was actually the other factor that ensured the Cardinals emerged victorious last night. With Anita Sterling shooting incredibly well early on, the Cardinals got out to that early advantage, and they were able to hit some timely threes as the game went on.
• NCC Charges Drawn: 1. Guess who? Anita Sterling drew one in the second quarter that drew some ire from Millikin coach Lori Kerans, who wanted the same calls down at the other end of the floor, where North Central was able to get to the line a couple times on plays that could have possibly been called charges against the Cardinals.

CCIW Scoreboard Watch

• @ Wheaton 67 (17-4, 10-2), Augustana 63 (15-7, 8-5)
• @ Elmhurst 75 (17-5, 9-4), Carthage 58 (12-9, 6-6)
• Illinois Wesleyan 89 (15-6, 10-2), @ North Park 62 (11-11, 4-9)
• North Park is eliminated from the CCIW Tournament.
• BYE: Carroll (1-19, 1-11)
• MBK: @ Augustana 72 (18-4, 11-2), NCC 66 (13-9, 7-6) (OT)
• Augustana clinches a berth in the CCIW Tournament.

Final Thoughts
This one wasn't my best performance on the microphone, nor was it necessarily the best effort by the Cardinals, but they did a great job in the two key areas they need to to win games: three point shooting and forcing turnovers. Millikin never led despite keeping the game close for much of the night, and despite a sizable rebounding advantage, was only able to score seven second chance points. Credit the Cardinals for being able to lock things down defensively when they needed to.

This was a big win, but time is running out for the Cardinals, and the schedule doesn't get easier from here. There's still a home date with Carroll on Wednesday, but otherwise it's matchups with three tournament teams, with two of them coming on the road. The Cardinals need to win out and get a ton of help if they want to steal a tournament berth; they can't catch Wheaton or Wesleyan, and can tie Elmhurst, but they could make that regular season finale with Augustana end up as a fourth place game if they can step up. It starts on Saturday as the huge rivalry with Elmhurst is renewed on Senior Night.