Box Score
BELOIT, Wis. – The Prairie Fire struggled to make shots in the second half and fell to Beloit College 100-81 in Midwest Conference play on Saturday.

Knox managed only 12 field goals and 26 percent shooting after taking a 46-45 lead into the locker room at halftime.  The Prairie Fire had an especially difficult time from 3-point range, going 0-for-15 in the first half and 3-for-32 overall.

Knox (5-7, 3-4 MWC) offset its shooting troubles from behind the line and the Buccaneers' fast start by sinking 18-of-29 shots inside the 3-point arc during the opening stanza.

Beloit (5-7, 3-4 MWC) grabbed a 14-6 lead four minutes into the game.  A basket by senior Jodi Marver (Northbrook, IL, Glenbrook North) at the 11:13 mark capped an 8-0 run and put the Prairie Fire on top 24-20.  The lead changed hands nine times in the first half, and neither team led by more than four points.

Knox jockeyed back in front of the Bucs on a layup by first-year Hailey Leinart (Gurnee, IL, Warren Township) that made it 42-41 with 1:29 remaining.  Leinart added a pair of free throws on the next possession, extending the lead to three.  Beloit cut it to one by the intermission.

The Prairie Fire shot 41 percent from the floor and hit 10-of-15 free throws in the first half.  The Buccaneers made 45 percent of their field goals and 9-of-14 foul shots to keep pace with Knox.

Knox opened the second half scoring with a layup by first-year Summer Fujii (Irvine, CA, Woodbridge), and maintained a three point lead at 50-47 on two free throws by Elena Angueira-Bosch (Isabela, Puerto Rico, Spires Academy) with 17:40 left in the game.

Beloit ran off 10 straight points to surge ahead 57-50.  Knox drew within five, 63-58, on a layup by first-year Erin Orr (Chicago, IL, Oak Park-River Forest) with 12:00 to go.

The Buccaneers built the lead to 73-62 about four minutes later.  The Prairie Fire stayed within striking distance on a 3-pointer by senior Jessica Howard (Galesburg, IL, Galesburg), the team's first of the day, and a free throw by first-year Naja Woods (Minneapolis, MN, Southwest) that made it 73-66.

Beloit answered with a 12-0 run that put the game out of reach and halted a three-game losing streak.

Sophomore Aly Eastman (Kewanee, IL, Wethersfield), first-year Kayla Brown (Roseville, CA, Wilton Christian), and Woods scored eight points apiece to lead Knox in scoring.  Orr grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.

The Prairie Fire return home to face Grinnell College (6-6, 4-3 MWC) on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.