GALESBURG, Ill. - The Illinois College women's basketball team played even with Knox College throughout most of the game, but an abysmal first quarter doomed the Lady Blues, who fell 88-67 to the Prairie Fire. IC now sits at 9-15 (5-12 Midwest Conference) with one game remaining in the season.
Illinois College grabbed the lead early, as Carly Cameron hit a mid-range jumper to put the Lady Blues up 2-0. Knox countered quickly, with a basket from Morgan Potter tying the game. That was the start of a 12-0 run that gave the Prairie Fire a 10-point advantage. IC scored its second and final bucket of the quarter when Sydney Himmelman's jumper made the score, 12-4. Knox would end the first period on a 13-0 run to go up 25-4 entering the second quarter.
After Knox extended its lead to 23 points, 27-4, Megan Price scored the next five points to pull Illinois College within 18 at 27-9. Another basket from Price cut down Knox's lead to 16 points, 35-19, midway through the second quarter. However, the Prairie Fire would suppress the Lady Blues for the rest of the half, eventually heading to the locker room with a 25-point advantage, 47-22.
Illinois College couldn't find a way to put out the Prairie Fire's momentum in the third quarter, as Potter hit a jumper to give Knox it's largest lead of the game, 53-24. McKenzie Skaggs followed with a three-pointer, kick-starting a 7-0 run to pull the Lady Blues within 22 points, 53-31. Back-and-forth play throughout the rest of the quarter saw the 22-point margin remain, as Knox carried a 66-44 lead into the final period.
Sydney Lett drilled a three-pointer to cut Illinois College's deficit down to 19, 66-47, to begin the fourth. Madi Bunger fought through contact to hit a short jumper and sunk the free throw to extend Knox's lead back up to 83-57Â with just over three minutes left in the game. Brielle Greenleaf hit one last shot to pull with 19, but the Prairie Fire ended the contest with a commanding 21-point victory, 88-67.
Greenleaf and Price led the Lady Blues with 16 points each, while Cameron contributed another 13. Lett led IC with nine assists on the night. Knox was led by Karlie Thorn, who drained five threes on her way to a 23-point night.
Illinois College wraps up its season on Saturday, when Lawrence University visits the Hilltop. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.
