GRINNELL, Iowa – The Prairie Fire erased an early deficit and took control midway through the first half in a 90-76 Midwest Conference victory at Grinnell College on Wednesday.

Knox (10-12, 8-9 MWC) hit nine 3-point baskets in the opening stanza to surge ahead and post a fourth straight win in the series against the Pioneers.

Grinnell (9-13, 7-10 MWC) jumped out to a 12-4 lead four minutes into the contest.  A basket by first-year Erin Orr (Chicago, IL, Oak Park-River Forest) capped a run of nine unanswered points that put the Prairie Fire in front for the first time at the 13:43 mark.

The Pioneers scored to go up 14-13 on the next possession, but the closest they could get from that point was an 18-18 tie.

Senior Brittney Price (Wyoming, IL, Stark County) buried a 3-pointer to break the tie with 10:35 remaining and Knox never relinquished the lead.  Back-to-back 3s by junior Jasmine Binion (Davenport, IA, Assumption) and first-year Carley Bechen (Eugene, OR, Churchill) pushed the advantage to nine, and two free throws by senior Jodi Marver (Northbrook, IL, Glenbrook North) with about six minutes left gave the Prairie Fire a 16-point cushion, 44-28.

Marver had a big first half with 15 points, including two treys and 5-of-6 shooting from the foul line that helped Knox maintain a 51-39 lead at the break.

The Prairie Fire led by as many as 18 points when sophomore Aly Eastman (Kewanee, IL, Wethersfield) netted a 3-pointer with 17:33 to play.  The Pioneers fought back with a 14-2 run over the next four minutes that included 12 straight points to close the gap to 63-57.

A basket by Marver and two from Price, the second one a jumper from behind the 3-point line, extended the Knox lead to 70-57 with 12:18 to go.  Grinnell could get no closer than eight points the rest of the game.

The Prairie Fire finished with 12 3-point baskets and outscored the Pioneers 16-7 from the free throw line.  Marver led the offensive charge with 24 points while Orr added 15 and a team-high six rebounds.

Knox has its most wins in a season since 2009-10 and most conference victories since the 1996-97 team won 10.  The Prairie Fire will conclude the season at home against Ripon College on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.