Box Score

Galesburg, Ill. – The Prairie Fire bounced back after surrendering a double-digit lead and defeated Grinnell College 91-89 in Midwest Conference play on Wednesday at Memorial Gym.

Junior Jodi Marver (Northbrook, IL, Glenbrook North) sank two free throws with six seconds left in the game to help Knox (5-13, 3-10 MWC) earn its first season sweep against the Pioneers since the 2001-02 season.

Grinnell erased a 14 point deficit and led by as many as three at 76-73 with 6:09 to play.  The Pioneers (2-17, 1-13 MWC) led for the last time at 78-77 about a minute later before the Prairie Fire scored six straight points for an 83-78 advantage with a little over 4:00 remaining.

Grinnell, however, refused to go away and tied the game at 87 and 89 before committing a foul on Marver as she drove to the basket on the last offensive possession by Knox.

The Prairie Fire trailed 21-19 at the at the 9:22 mark and scored six straight points on a 3-pointer by first-year Molly Lascelles (Ipava, IL, VIT), a free throw by sophomore Jamie Blue (Urbana, IL, University), and an offensive rebound bucket by Blue to take a 25-21 lead with 8:04 before the break.

The Pioneers briefly trimmed the Knox lead to two before an 8-0 surge gave the Prairie Fire their first double-figure lead at 33-23.  Knox led by as many as 12 in the opening half and took a 41-31 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

The Prairie Fire built their biggest lead of the game at 61-47 with 12:30 to go.

Knox had nine 3-pointers in the first half but came up empty on 11 second half attempts.  The Prairie Fire finished at 39 percent shooting but made good on 24-of-31 free throws, including 20-of-24 after halftime.

Grinnell got back in the game with 62 percent shooting and a 16-of-20 effort from the free throw line in the second half.  The Pioneers shot 52.5 percent overall but committed 31 turnovers.

Blue scored a career-high 21 points for Knox while Marver was 11-of-12 at the stripe and added 19 points.  Lascelles and senior Grace Theisen (Minneapolis, MN, Southwest) contributed 10 points apiece while junior Jessica Howard (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) had eight points and a team-high seven rebounds.

Anne Boldt and Alex Plemmons scored 22 points each to lead Grinnell.

Knox hosts Lake Forest College in another Midwest Conference game on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.