GALESBURG, Ill. — Exceptional team play and a historic milestone were crucial this afternoon to help the Knox College women's basketball team (6-6) defeat Benedictine University (4-6) in convincing fashion by a final score of 77-63. 

Fifth-year Sarina Dacio opened up the scoring for the Prairie Fire with a 3-pointer, cementing her legacy in a Knox uniform with her 180th career 3-pointer, breaking the program record previously held by Karlie Thorn '19. Dacio's historic milestone came less than a month after surpassing 1,000 points in early December. 

As Dacio fueled the Knox offense early on, the Prairie Fire jumped out to an early lead. Fifth-year Haylee Carpenter brought a spark off the bench as well, scoring seven first-quarter points with a triple and a couple of buckets by the rim to help the Knox finish the first-quarter with a 21-18 lead. 

In the second quarter, junior guard Kylee Callahan began to assert herself. Using a combination of mid-range shots and tough finishes inside, scoring 12 points in the quarter to help Knox extend its lead. Timely baskets from sophomore Bria Medina, senior Brianna Arizmendi, and first-year Nayeli Nidez Acuña sent the Prairie Fire into halftime with a 45-33 advantage.

A tip-in basket and trifecta from Dacio to start the second half put the Prairie Fire in control, with their lead growing to as many as 20 points. A late push from the Eagles trimmed the lead to 11, however, as Knox entered the fourth quarter ahead, 60-49. 

Cami Hurt, managed to tip-in a rebound to cut the Prairie Fire's lead down to single digits early for the first time in 15 minutes in the fourth quarter. But free throws from Callahan and Medina built the lead back to double digits. When Carpenter drilled a pair of 3-pointers midway through the stanza, Knox's victory was all but assured with a 17-point lead.

• Callahan finished the afternoon with 20 points, her second 20-point game of the season and 10th of her career, to go along with five rebounds.
• Carpenter (3-of-5 from the perimeter), Dacio (3-of-6 from deep) and Medina each added 13 points of their own.
• Arizmendi led Knox with 10 rebounds this afternoon, marking her fourth double-digit game this season.
• The Prairie Fire concluded their non-conference portion of the season, going 5-4 against teams outside the Midwest Conference.

Knox (1-2 MWC) will resume conference play as it hosts Lake Forest College (2-9, 1-2 MWC) on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Memorial Gymnasium. A live stream for the game, along with live stats, can be found through the official website of Knox College athletics, PrairieFire.Knox.edu.