Box Score

Jacksonville, Ill. – A big run in the first half helped propel Illinois College to a 118-89 Midwest Conference victory against the Prairie Fire on Wednesday.

IC got off to a fast start, scoring the first nine points of the game.  A basket by senior Grace Theisen (Minneapolis, MN, Southwest) got Knox on the scoreboard at the 17:42 mark.  After the Lady Blues scored again, Theisen cut the deficit to six at 11-5 with another bucket about five minutes into the game.

Illinois College (12-10, 10-7) built the lead to double-digits at 16-5 with 14:09 left in the half.  The Prairie Fire pulled within eight on a 3-pointer by junior Jessica Howard (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg).  IC twice regained a 10 point cushion, which Knox cut to eight on a bucket by senior Chantal Heckman (Chicago, IL, Latin) to make it 20-12 with 12:30 before the break.

Howard answered again for the Prairie Fire with a jumper that cut a 14 point IC lead to 28-16 about 90 seconds later.

The Lady Blues followed with a run that essentially decided the game.

IC scored 18 unanswered points over a span of about four minutes to pull ahead 46-16.  Junior Jodi Marver (Northbrook, IL, Glenbrook North) snapped the run with a three-point play.

Knox fought back to within 23 points before a free throw by Illinois College standout Hannah McGinnis gave the hosts a 66-41 halftime lead.

The Lady Blues shot 67 percent (24-of-36) from the field and a nearly automatic 17-of-18 from the free throw line in the first half.  The Prairie Fire ended the half shooting 33 percent (13-of-39), 3-of-15 from 3-point range, and sank 12-of-15 foul shots.

McGinnis had a huge half for IC with 24 points and 10 rebounds.  Howard was also a force with 15 first half points for Knox.

Illinois College went on an 8-0 run to start the second half.  Marver halted it by making the second of two free throws, but IC led 74-42 with 17:29 to play.

The Lady Blues extended the lead to 93-52 about midway through the second half.

The Prairie Fire (6-16, 4-13) didn't quit and outscored Illinois College 37-25 the rest of the way.

IC shot 59 percent (43-of-73) overall and made 31-of-33 (94 percent) from the foul line.  Knox finished at 35 percent (29-of-83) from the field, 7-of-31 (23 percent) from 3-point distance and connected on 24-of-34 (71 percent) free throws.

The Lady Blues dominated the glass with a 62-25 rebounding advantage.  On the other side, the Prairie Fire's constant full-court pressure forced IC into 39 turnovers that led to 31 points.

Howard led four Knox players in double-figure scoring with 21 points.  Marver added 20, Theisen 17, and first-year Aly Eastman (Kewanee, IL, Wethersfield) had 10.

McGinnis, the leading scorer and rebounder in the Midwest Conference, finished with 44 points and 22 rebounds for IC.

Knox concludes the season at home against Ripon College at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, which is also Senior Day at Memorial Gym.