Sarina Dacio
Knox College
Sarina Dacio tied the Knox career record for 3-pointers in the game.
80
Knox KC 5-6,1-2 Midwest Conference
83
Winner Webster WEBSTR 9-1,3-0 SLIAC
Knox KC
5-6,1-2 Midwest Conference
80
Final
83
Webster WEBSTR
9-1,3-0 SLIAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Knox KC 13 21 27 19 80
Webster WEBSTR 18 25 19 21 83

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Webster Rallies in Closing Minutes to Knock Off Women

The Prairie Fire battled back in the second half but could not hold a late lead

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The game between Knox College and host Webster University began and ended in similar fashion with the Prairie Fire starting both the first and fourth quarters with an eight-point run. But in both instances, the Gorloks responded with long runs late in those quarters, the last a 10-point stretch in the final two minutes to send Webster (9-1) to an 83-80 victory over Knox (5-6).

Fifth-year Sarina Dacio, who sat out the previous game 12 days ago, returned to lead the Prairie Fire with 23 points while first-year Nayeli Nidez Acuña provided 19 along with a team-high seven rebounds. While Knox got all but nine points from its starters, the Gorloks relied heavily on their bench with reserve Meghan Illingworth pacing Webster with 20 points and Jenna Stannard providing 10 more, though starter Bethany Lancaster contributed a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double.

After trailing by nine at the half, the Prairie Fire had whittled that down to one entering the fourth quarter, and they seemed to be taking control with their eight-point run — half of those points coming from Nidez Acuña ­— for a 69-62 lead. Another bucket from Nidez Acuña with just over five minutes to play boosted the Knox advantage to eight at 73-65, and the lead was still four with 1:55 left after a 14-foot baseline jumper by junior Kylee Callahan.

The lead would not hold, however, as Webster scored the next 10 points, including a tie-breaking 3-pointer with 40 seconds to go by Grace Hupp. By the time the Prairie Fire could snap the run on Dacio's fourth triple of the game, only 10 ticks remained. Two Stannard free throws sealed the outcome, making sophomore Bria Medina's layup at the buzzer moot.

  • As noted, Knox jumped out to an 8-0 lead, but Webster scored the final eight points of the quarter for an 18-13 lead after 10 minutes of play; Knox has not won a game this season that it did not lead after the opening quarter.
  • The Prairie Fire shot a season-best 53.0 percent from the floor (35-of-66) with Nidez Acuña, Medina (16 points) and Callahan (13) combining to hit 22-of-34 (64.7 percent).
  • Webster had a 23-9 edge in offensive rebounds, leading to 21 second-chance points compared to just six for Knox.
  • Dacio tied the Prairie Fire career record for 3-pointers (179), set by Karlie Thorn '19.

Knox will wrap up its non-conference slate with its first game of the 2025 calendar year, a home showdown with Benedictine University at Memorial Gymnasium on Jan. 4. The contest will begin at 1 p.m. with a live stream and stats available at PrairieFire.Knox.edu, the official website of Knox College athletics.

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