GRINNELL, Iowa — Coming off of two impressive wins in its past two games, the Knox College women's basketball team was unable to make it three in a row as the Prairie Fire (3-3, 0-1 Midwest Conference) dropped their first league matchup in a narrow 67-65 defeat to Grinnell College (7-2) at Darby Gymnasium Tuesday night.
Knox had a difficult time figuring out the Pioneer defense as the team shot a season-low 27.2 percent (22-of-81) from the floor. Sophomore Bria Medina, fresh off being named the conference's Performer of the Week, led the Prairie Fire attack with 16 points to go along with five assists, five rebounds, and three steals. But Knox did not have an answer for Pioneer center Sara Booher who recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 20 rebounds and 10 blocked shots.
Both teams battled out a close first quarter that ultimately left Grinnell with a 16-14 lead. Knox started to find its groove in transition with 10 fast-break points in the second quarter to stay within striking distance only down two at halftime, 33-31.
The Pioneers were able to grow their lead to as many as eight points in the third and fourth quarters, but the Prairie Fire ran off nine straight points to claw back and retake the lead when junior Kylee Callahan sank a corner three. Booher responded with a layup, but Medina hit a short jumper with three minutes to play for a 64-63 advantage. Again Booher answered back with a layup, and this time the Grinnell lead held as its defense allowed just one point the rest of the way.
- Callahan played a key role for Knox with 11 points, hitting 2-of-4 from the perimeter to go along with four rebounds.
- First-year Nayeli Nidez Acuña also make a key contribution to the Prairie Fire's efforts with 10 points and eight boards.
- Grinnell's 15-2 advantage in second chance points and 36-20 edge in points in the paint made the difference for the Pioneers closing out the game on top.
- Tuesday night's loss is the third straight game the Prairie Fire have dropped to the Pioneers, with Knox's last win against Grinnell dating back to Jan. 25, 2023.
- Bailey Strovers chipped in a double-double of 14 points and 15 rebounds for Grinnell, which outrebounded the Prairie Fire by a 64-44 margin.
Knox will look to bounce back Saturday as they travel to Whitewater, Wisconsin, to face off against the ninth-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Kachel Gymnasium. A live stream and stats for the match can be found at prairiefire.knox.edu, the official website of Knox College athletics.
