MONMOUTH – After missing the Midwest Conference Tournament a year ago, the Prairie Fire women punched their ticket to the conference tournament on Wednesday night, topping Monmouth 101-72.

Knox (12-10 overall, 10-3 in the MWC) extended its season-high winning streak to five games and remained in a tie for second with Lawrence. The Prairie Fire hosts league-leading Ripon in the home finale on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Nayeli Nidez Acuña came up big for Knox, scoring a game-high 26 points on 12-15 shooting. There were plenty of Prairie Fire getting in on the action as five Knox players scored in double figures.

Bria Medina added 18 points, Kylee Callahan scored 17, Izzy Robinson totaled 12, and Sarah Finley finished with 12 points to go with Nidez Acuña's 26. 

On the glass, Knox was dominant, outrebounding the Scots 48-31. Robinson, Callahan, and Carly Smith all grabbed nine boards apiece. Medina added eight assists as Knox had 24 assists on 42 field goals. 

The Prairie Fire had a strong start, taking a five-point lead at the end of the first quarter. Knox continued to pull away, taking a 47-37 lead at halftime. In the third, Knox put the game away for good, outscoring Monmouth 33-14 in the period.

The Prairie Fire shot the ball well all game, hitting 42-71 (59.2 percent) of their shots. Most of those shots were in close range, as Knox scored 74 points in the paint. Knox led for all but three minutes, dispatching the Scots and locking in their postseason bid.