Galesburg, IL – The Prairie Fire’s five seniors didn’t end their careers the way they’d hoped, but they did all they could to make it difficult for Monmouth College in a 118-102 loss on Saturday at Memorial Gym.

Knox and Monmouth stayed close for the first 9:00 of the contest.  A 3-point basket by Prairie Fire first-year guard Jodi Marver (Northbrook, IL, Glenbrook North) cut a five point lead by the Fighting Scots (14-9, 13-5 MWC) to 20-18 at the 11:20 mark of the first half. 

Monmouth followed with a 12-2 run over the next 3:30 to take a double-digit lead at 32-20.  The Prairie Fire (4-19, 4-14 MWC) cut the deficit to eight at 33-25 with 7:00 to go, but the Scots responded with a 20-10 run to close out the half and lead 53-35 at the intermission.

Monmouth shot 53 percent in the opening stanza and drained 6-of-12 shots from 3-point range.  Colleen Forrest led the way with 6-of-6 shooting, including makes on her three attempts from long distance, and scored 16 first half points.  Knox connected on 20 percent (9-of-46) from the floor in the first half and 6-of-33 from beyond the 3-point line.

Monmouth extended its lead to 23, the biggest of the game, at 63-40 with 17:18 remaining.  The Prairie Fire got within 10 points twice, at the 3:06 mark (107-97) and with 2:39 to go (110-100), but couldn't get any closer.

The Scots shot a blistering 68 percent in the second half (25-of-37) and 60 percent overall, including 9-of-18 from 3-point range.  Monmouth also made 21-of-31 free throws.  Knox improved to 45 percent shooting in the second half (21-of-47) but finished at 32 percent (30-of-93) in the game and 28 percent (16-of-58) from 3-point distance.  The Prairie Fire shot well at the foul line, knocking down 26-of-30.

Juniors Kristin McDonald (Chicago, IL, Regina Dominican) and Sara Johnson (Grinnell, Iowa, Grinnell) both scored 16 points to lead Knox on offense.  Senior Abby Owens (Grinnell, IA, Grinnell) and Marver each contributed 13 and first-year Becky Duffy (Chicago, IL, Northside Prep) had 12.

Haley Jones of Monmouth led all scorers with 23 points.

The five Prairie Fire seniors – Owens, Kelly Ricketts (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg), Lynn Mueller (Woodridge, IL, Downers Grove South), Steph Nunez (Mokena, IL, Lincoln-Way East), and Krystyna Williams (Evanston, IL, Evanston Township) were recognized with their families after the game.

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