Knox College Athletics

Liz Grana, Class of 2006, was a member of the women’s basketball team for all four years she studied at Knox. Playing the post position, Liz was a tenacious rebounder, as well as team captain, All-Conference player, and a record setter between 2002 and 2006.

Liz was an important part of the team beginning in her first year, starting in nine games and competing in 21 of 22 contests. In fact, she played in 90 of a possible 91 games over the course of her Knox career. Liz led the women’s basketball team in rebounding all four years and led the Midwest Conference in rebounding her sophomore and junior years, averaging 9.6 and 10 rebounds per game, respectively. She was named to the All-Conference second team in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.

Liz currently holds Knox women’s basketball records for rebounds in a game (20) and rebounds in a career (781). At graduation, she also held the record for highest field goal percentage in a season (55.2% in 2004-05). Liz appears multiple times among single-season leaders in rebounds (she’s in second, third, and fifth place) and field goal percentage (where she is ranked second and fourth). In addition, she is ranked 12th all-time at Knox with 821 career points. Liz was also an Academic All-Midwest Conference honoree and was named to ESPN the Magazine’s All-District V third team as a senior.

Classmate Joel Christensen ’06 said, “It did not take long for Liz to become a Knox all-star, both on the basketball court and around campus. To be at Knox from ’02 to ’06 was to know the power of Liz. Among other things, she would become the 2006 senior class president and our class’s unofficial spokesperson. She was a force known and respected by literally everyone around campus. Liz’s impact on the basketball court and throughout the athletic department was significant.”

Liz received the Evelyn Bielefeldt Award in her senior year, which is given to the senior female athlete with the most outstanding career in intercollegiate athletics.