Box Score
The Prairie Fire was unable to successfully play the role of spoiler against Carroll University, as the Pioneers beat the Prarie Fire 64-55 Friday night at Memorial Gym.
Carroll (13-6, 9-5 MWC) appeared in jeopardy of falling out of the top four in the Midwest Conference after a 2-2 stretch that included losses at Grinnell College and at home against Monmouth College. The Pioneers responded by beating Beloit 65-51 February 2 in Waukesha, Wisconsin followed by the win at Knox.
Carroll is tied with Illinois College, the Fire's next opponent Wednesday night in Jacksonville, Illinois, four fourth place in the league standings and is one game up on Lake Forest College in the win column.
The Prairie Fire (5-13, 4-9 MWC) shot 50 percent (10-of-20) from the floor and made 8-of-10 free throws to take a 28-27 advantage into the locker room at halftime. Carroll led by seven points six minutes into the game, but Knox fought back and the teams found themselves tied on five different occasions. A jumper by junior Abby Owens (Grinnell, Iowa) at the 2:41 mark gave the Prairie Fire the lead it held onto at the half as Carroll went the final 3:23 without a field goal and shot 38 percent.
The Pioneers scored eight straight points over the first two minutes of the second half to reclaim a seven point lead at 35-28. The Fire cut the deficit to 39-36 on a pair of free throws by junior Kelly Ricketts (Galesburg, Illinois), pictured above right, with 15:41 to play when Carroll scored seven straight points to grab a 46-36 lead less than three minutes later.
Knox answered with a 12-3 run, fueled by three buckets from junior Krystyna Williams (Evanston, Illinois) and six free throws without a miss, to slice the Carroll lead to 49-48 with 6:28 to play.
The Pioneers, led by Lyndsey Seewald and Janelle Groer, outscored the Prairie Fire 13-4 over the next six minutes to put the game out of reach at 62-52 with 28 seconds remaining.
Seewald scored a game-high 24 points and had 12 rebounds for the Pioneers, who shot 46 percent in the second half while holding Knox to 32 percent. Groer added 17 points for Carroll.
Williams led the Prairie Fire with 20 points and nine rebounds. Senior Jenny Haskell (Murphys, California) added 14 points and five steals.
Carroll swept the two games played against Knox with the victory after winning 71-59 at home in the first meeting between the teams in early December.
