By Stan Friedman<\/p>\n
CHICAGO, IL (January 9, 2006) – The North Park University women’s basketball team shocked Millikin University’s Big Blue squad Saturday afternoon, defeating the nation’s 22nd ranked team and last year’s NCAA Division III national champions.<\/p>\n
Stiff defense and timely shooting led the Vikings to the 65-55 victory. North Park improved its record to a perfect 2-0 in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) and 7-6 overall.<\/p>\n
The Vikings led 28-19 at halftime after limiting Millikin’s star, Lindsay Ippel, to just eight points (15 for the game). She recently had scored 70 points over three games.<\/p>\n
Millikin, a team that likes to run, pushed the pace of the game in the second half to erase the deficit. The Vikings played almost foul-free ball in the first half, but put Millikin at the line repeatedly early in the second as they tried to keep up with the faster pace.<\/p>\n
Coach Jack Surridge was forced to pull senior Megan Slattery for much of the second half. The Vikings’ top player picked up her third foul with 18:24 left and then her fourth with just less than 13 minutes to play.<\/p>\n
Millikin came within one point, but were never able to gain the lead. In the end, it was the Vikings who pushed the ball down court for several key breakaway points to beat Millikin’s press.<\/p>\n
Millikin was forced to foul, but the Vikings, who had gone cold at the line earlier in the first half, couldn’t miss when the pressure was on. They shot 14-22 (63 percent) in the second half.<\/p>\n
“It’s something we knew we could do,” said Megan Slattery of the victory, adding she was not surprised that the team was able to withstand the pressure. “We’ve been in close games all year.”<\/p>\n
Evie Peterson led all scorers with 19. Other Viking scoring leaders were Anna Mueller, 15; Laura Mount, 12; and Shandrel Young, 11.<\/p>\n
The Vikings next travel to North Central (6-7, 1-1) for a 7:30 p.m. game Tuesday night.<\/p>\n