Box Score

Grinnell College used its size and stingy defense to hold off the Prairie Fire 61-54 Monday night at Memorial Gymnasium.

The Pioneers (9-12, 8-9 MWC) shot 56 percent in the first half to build a six point lead at the break.  The advantage was fueled by a 17-8 run that began with a three-point basket at the 7:43 mark by Abby Jaeger -- her only field goal in the game -- and extended an 18-16 lead to 35-24 with 2:38 to go before halftime.

A basket by junior Krystyna Williams (Evanston, Illinois) and a three-pointer by junior Steph Nunez (Mokena, Illinois) on consecutive possessions to close out the half helped the Prairie Fire (5-16, 4-12 MWC) cut Grinnell's lead to 35-29.

Nunez had a big first half with 11 points for Knox.  She made all three of her three-point shot attempts and was 4-of-5 overall from the floor.  The Pioneers' Brianna Gallo matched Nunez with 11 points and had the same offensive stat line.

Knox shot 46 percent in the first half and equaled the Pioneers with four three-point baskets. Grinnell allowed the Fire just one offensive rebound and held a 17-7 edge on the glass.

The Prairie Fire got off to a strong start in the second half, scoring 10 of the first 12 points to trim the Pioneers' advantage to 39-37 at the 14:07 mark. 

Grinnell's Michelle Briggs, who set a school record with 12 blocks in her team's win last Saturday at Illinois College, made a short jump shot with 13:43 to go in the game that kick started a 13-7 run by the Pioneers.  Her free throw at the 8:48 mark allowed Grinnell to take its biggest lead of the half at 52-44.

The Pioneers tightened up on defense, holding the Prairie Fire to 35 percent shooting in the second half and seven points over the final 8:26 of the contest.  Grinnell also added to its advantage on the boards, outrebounding Knox 41-25, including a 13-5 edge on the offensive end.

The Prairie Fire played well defensively in the second half as well, allowing only nine Grinnell baskets.  The Pioneers shot 31 percent in the second half but made a pair of three-point baskets while Knox was 0-of-4 from long range.

The Pioneers shot 43 percent overall while Knox hit on 40 percent of its shots.  Grinnell finished 9-of-16 from the foul line compared to 8-of-14 for the Fire.

The loss gives the Prairie Fire a season split with Grinnell.  Knox won the first game against the Pioneers 63-62 in early December.

Megan Huey scored a game-high 15 points for the Pioneers, who had four players reach double-figures.  Briggs added 14, Kelly Clarke had 12 and Gallo finished with the 11 points she had at the intermission.

Williams led the Prairie Fire with 14 points.  Nunez contributed a career-high 13 points and sophomore Sara Johnson (Grinnell, Iowa) dropped in 11.

The contest was designated as the "Play for the Cure" game for both teams.  The players wore pink tee shirts during warm-ups as part of the fundraiser for cancer research.  The donations that were solicited will go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota in honor of Faculty Athletic Representative Professor Larry Welch.

The Prairie Fire will try to stop a six game losing streak Wednesday in the home finale against Lake Forest College.  Senior Jenny Haskell (Murphys, California) and her parents will be recognized prior to the game, which is scheduled to tip off at 5:30.

The Foresters (12-9, 10-6) have won five of their last six games and are trying to earn a spot in the four-team Midwest Conference Tournament later this month in DePere, Wisconsin.