Mulloy goes for 27 points in road loss

Millikin hit the Rams with a 15-3 game-ending run and offset a career-high 27-point outing from freshman Rikki Mulloy as Cornell dropped a tough 74-71 road decision Thursday afternoon at the Griswold Center.

Cornell (4-6) appeared well on its way to carrying a .500 record into Christmas break. The Rams led by 15 points early in the second half and built a 68-59 cushion on a Camille Marie-Lidd free throw with 4:24 remaining.

The Big Blue (8-3) rallied for 11 unanswered points to go ahead 70-68, their first lead since midway through the opening period. Junior Kathryn Schilling put the Rams back on top at 71-70 with a conventional 3-point play with 2:01 to go.

Millikin regained the lead at 72-71 on the ensuing possession with an inside bucket from Heather Pruemer, who scored 19 of her 23 points in the second half. The Big Blue provided the final margin on a jumper with 34 seconds remaining. The Rams misfired on four 3-point shots in the final 1:41.

Mulloy had the hot hand for the Rams, shooting 10-of-19 from the floor with five 3-point goals and a pair of free throws. The 5-foot-6 guard topped her previous scoring high of 22 points, set against Aurora in the second game of the season.

Mulloy had 16 points by intermission as Cornell staked a 42-29 lead behind 50.0 percent shooting (16-of-32). The Rams never trailed by more than three points the entire contest, although the offense cooled off late and shot 33.3 percent in the second half.

Marie-Lidd joined Mulloy in double figures with 13 points to go along with five rebounds. Schilling and Taylor Dicus finished with eight points apiece. Chelsea Harris grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Schilling had three steals.

Cornell, which came in as the top rebounding team in the Iowa Conference, lost the battle on the boards 44-31. Millikin turned the ball over 22 times, to Cornell's 20.

Rams in the rankings - Marie-Lidd enters the holiday break fourth in the IIAC in rebounding (7.6 rpg) and fifth in scoring (14.3 ppg). She averages an IIAC-best 3.5 offensive rebounds per game. Schilling stands fifth in steals (2.3 spg).

Coming up - The Rams are idle until Jan. 4, when they resume conference play against Buena Vista (7-3, 2-0 IIAC) in Storm Lake. Cornell is locked in a three-way tie for third place in the league standings, behind IIAC unbeatens Coe (9-2, 3-0) and Buena Vista.