Box Score

Galesburg, Ill. – The Prairie Fire couldn't end a drought against Ripon College, falling 96-82 in the season finale on Saturday at Memorial Gym.

After a slow start Knox got to work and closed the first half strong, appearing poised to snap an eight game skid against the Red Hawks on Senior Day.

Ripon (10-13, 10-8 MWC) jumped out to a 12-3 lead four minutes into the game.  A 13-4 run that included two 3-pointers from junior Jessica Howard (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg) and another by first-year Aly Eastman (Kewanee, IL, Wethersfield) gave the Prairie Fire a 16-14 lead at the 13:49 mark.

The teams exchanged the lead multiple times over the next eight minutes.  Knox finally got some separation during the final five minutes of the half.

A basket by junior Jodi Marver (Northbrook, IL, Glenbrook North) put the Prairie Fire back on top 35-34, the start of a 12-2 run that increased the lead to nine at 45-36 on a trey by Howard with 3:18 remaining.

The Red Hawks scored back-to-back buckets to trim the deficit to five.  Sophomore Jamie Blue (Urbana, IL, University) gave Knox the momentum back with a free throw and a 3-pointer to close out the half leading 49-40.

The teams played through four ties and the lead changed hands 13 times through the first 20 minutes.

The Prairie Fire shot 39 percent in the opening half, including nine baskets were from 3-point range, and went 6-of-8 from the foul line.  Knox also forced Ripon into 14 turnovers that led to 12 points.  The Red Hawks connected on 36 percent from the field and sank 8-of-10 free throws.

Ripon began the second half on an 11-1 run to cut the Prairie Fire's lead to 51-50 with 14:28 to play in the game.

Howard continued her hot shooting with a 3-pointer to give Knox its first field goal of the half and a four point advantage.
The Red Hawks came back and tied the game at 54-all with 13:25 to go.  The Prairie Fire put together an 8-2 surge, capped by another Howard 3-point bucket, to lead 62-56 near the midway point of the half.

Ripon countered with a 12-0 run and regained the lead at 68-62 with 8:36 left.

Knox (6-17, 4-14 MWC) pulled to within three at 80-77 following five straight points by Marver with just under four minutes to go, but the Red Hawks wouldn't break.

Ripon outscored the Prairie Fire 16-2 until a three-point play by Marver with six seconds on the clock.

The Red Hawks warmed up to 49 percent shooting after halftime and finished at 42 percent (33-of-78).  Ripon was nearly lights out at the foul line, draining 20-of-22 attempts in the second half and 28-of-32 overall.

Knox shot 32 percent in the second half and 36 percent (27-of-75) overall.  The Prairie Fire knocked down 13-of-31 (42 percent) 3-point attempts and made 15-of-23 free throws.

The Red Hawks held a 59-31 edge on the glass and an 18-9 advantage in second chance points.

Marver led Knox with 23 points, nine rebounds, and three assists.  Howard finished with 21 points on seven 3-point field goals and Blue had 13 points and six rebounds.

Seniors Grace Theisen (Minneapolis, MN, Southwest) and Chantal Heckman (Chicago, IL, Latin) played the final game of their college careers.  Both were recognized prior to the contest.

Ripon extended its winning streak over the Prairie Fire to nine.  The last Knox win over the Red Hawks was in November of 2007 at Memorial Gym.