Box Score
Grinnell, IA – The Prairie Fire struggled to make shots against a stingy Grinnell College defense and lost 87-67 Tuesday at Darby Gym.

The Pioneers (10-7, 9-4 MWC) entered the game with the top ranked defense in the Midwest Conference, allowing opponents just 54.5 points per game and 32.5 percent shooting.  The Prairie Fire, meanwhile, began the week averaging 83.1 points per contest – tops in the conference and second in NCAA Division III.

Knox (4-14, 4-9 MWC) made 14 field goals and shot 29 percent in the first half, including 4-of-16 from 3-point range, while sinking 4-of-10 attempts at the foul line.  Grinnell hit 18-of-29 shots (62 percent). 

Despite the shooting disparity and falling behind by as many as 15 points -- 31-16 with 7:01 remaining in the first half -- the Fire only trailed 41-36 at the break.

The Pioneers scored six of the first seven points of the second half to reclaim a double-digit lead at 47-37 at the 18:30 mark.  Grinnell stretched the advantage to 64-44 with 13:41 to go.  Knox got within eight at 67-59 with 8:18 to play, but the Pioneers put the game away with a 14-2 run over the next five minutes for an 81-61 lead.

The Prairie Fire finished the game shooting 24-of-89 (27 percent) and 5-of-33 (15 percent) from behind the 3-point arc.  The Pioneers blocked 14 shots by Knox.  Grinnell connected on 36-of-64 (56 percent) shots in the contest.

Senior Krystyna Williams (Evanston, IL, Evanston Township) had 13 points to lead Knox on offense.  Rebecca DeGroot scored a game-high 21 points for the Pioneers while Michelle Briggs had 18 points, 10 rebounds, and seven blocks.

Knox looks to snap a two-game slide on Friday at Carroll University.  The game tips off at 5:00 p.m.  A win would give the Prairie Fire a season sweep of Carroll following an 83-78 Knox victory at home on December 3.

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