Box Score

Galesburg, Ill. – The Prairie Fire fought back from a double-digit second half deficit but couldn't knock out Beloit College in a 115-101 Midwest Conference loss on Saturday at Memorial Gym.

The Buccaneers shot 68 percent and made 35-of-49 attempts from the free throw line, yet Knox still managed to take the lead after trailing by 11 points with 15:31 left in the game.

Beloit built a 63-52 lead following an 8-0 run that the Prairie Fire snapped on a free throw by junior Becky Duffy (Chicago, IL, Northside Prep).  Her foul shot started a 12-4 surge that sophomore Jamie Blue (Urbana, IL, University) capped with a basket less than three minutes later to pull Knox within three at 67-64.

The Buccaneers (7-14, 7-9 MWC), winners of four straight, scored eight of the next 10 points to push the advantage to nine, 75-66.  The Prairie Fire followed with a 15-5 surge over the next 3:15 for an 81-80 lead after junior Jodi Marver (Northbrook, IL, Glenbrook North) hit two free throws.

Beloit responded with a pair of free throws for an 82-81 lead.   Marver answered again with a basket, and following a turnover by the Bucs, she added a free throw to give Knox the lead at 84-82 with just under 7:00 remaining.

The Bucs forced the fourth tie of the game at 84-84.  The Prairie Fire got the lead back at 86-84 on a pair of free throws by senior Grace Theisen (Minneapolis, MN, Southwest), but Beloit sank two foul shots to tie the game for the last time at 86-86.

Another free throw by Marver gave Knox an 87-86 advantage with 6:12 to play.  The Buccaneers took command with a 12-1 run over the next 2:30 to grab the momentum and the lead, 98-88.

Knox (6-14, 4-12 MWC) closed the gap to 98-91 on a 3-pointer by senior Chantal Heckman (Chicago, IL, Latin), but Beloit scored on a conventional three-point play to regain a 10 point lead that the Prairie Fire couldn't chip away.

The Bucs led by as many as 16 points in the first half.  Trailing by 12 points for the second time early in the game, the Prairie Fire trimmed the deficit to 24-22 on a bucket inside by Theisen at the 8:45 mark.  Beloit held Knox to two field goals in a four minute span and reclaimed a double-figure lead at 37-26.

Junior Brittney Price (Wyoming, IL, Stark County) knocked down a 3-pointer to bring the Prairie Fire back within eight at 37-29.  Beloit scored eight unanswered points to take the largest lead of the half, 45-29 with 2:51 before the break.

The Buccaneers held a 49-39 lead at halftime.

Beloit shot 68 percent in both halves while Knox finished at 39 percent, including 11-of-35 (31 percent) from 3-point range.  The Buccaneers outscored the Prairie Fire by 15 points from the foul line.

While Beloit outrebounded Knox 37-32, the Prairie Fire grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and had a 20-11 edge in second chance points.

Theisen matched her career-high with 22 points to lead Knox in scoring.  Heckman added 21 points and three steals while Marver had 19 points and nine assists.  Blue also reached double-figures with 12 points to go with four assists.

Lauren McNanna made 16-of-18 free throws for the Buccaneers and led everyone with 30 points.

The Prairie Fire visit Illinois College on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the final road game of the season.