Box Score
LA VERNE, California – The Prairie Fire were unable to make it a sweep during their two-game trip to California after falling 89-65 at the University of La Verne on Tuesday.

Knox was coming off a 95-59 win over Caltech on Sunday, but the shots just wouldn't go down against La Verne.  The Prairie Fire finished the game shooting 24 percent (24-of-99) overall, including 7-of-38 from 3-point range, and misfired on 10-of-20 free throw attempts.

Knox (4-5) got off to a good start and built a 15-7 lead on a conventional 3-point play by junior Saundra Gavazzi (Gilbert, AZ, Chandler) with 11:49 left in the first half.  The Leopards scored four straight points before senior Jessica Howard (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) netted a 3-pointer to push the Prairie Fire lead to 18-11 at the 9:18 mark.

La Verne (3-4) roared back with a 9-0 run to grab a two point advantage a little over two minutes later.  The teams played through three ties and Knox reclaimed a 27-24 lead on a trey by first-year Carley Bechen (Eugene, OR, Churchill) about four minutes before the break.

The hosts closed out the half with an 11-4 surge for a 38-32 halftime lead they'd never give up.

The Leopards scored nine unanswered to open the second half and led by 17 points (52-35) with 16:39 to play.

Knox answered with a 14-2 run that included two 3-pointers from junior Jamie Blue (Urbana, IL, University) to close the gap to 54-49 with 13:20 remaining.  La Verne put the game out of reach by scoring 18 of the next 19 points over a nearly six minute stretch to press ahead 71-50.

The Prairie Fire couldn't get closer than 15 points the rest of the way.

Sophomore Molly Lascelles (Ipava, IL, VIT) led Knox with 12 points while Blue also scored in double-figures with 10.  Bechen and first-year Naja Woods (Minneapolis, MN, Southwest) shared team-high rebounding honors with seven apiece.  Bechen and senior Jodi Marver (Northbrook, IL, Glenbrook North) each dished out four assists.

The Prairie Fire resume play with a Midwest Conference game at Ripon College on January 3.  Knox is off to a 2-2 start against league foes while the Red Hawks (1-7) have dropped four of their first five MWC contests.  The game is scheduled to tip off at 1:00 p.m.