GALESBURG, Ill. – Illinois College put together a strong offensive effort but could not keep pace with a hot-shooting Knox squad, falling 98-83 Tuesday night in a Midwest Conference match up at Memorial Gymnasium.
With the loss, the Lady Blues move to 8-11 overall and 4-6 in MWC play, while Knox improves to 8-10 on the season and 7-3 in conference action.
Knox jumped out early, building a 20-13 advantage after the opening quarter and extending the lead to 38-27 at halftime behind efficient shooting and strong play in the paint.
Illinois College came out of the break strong, scoring 24 points and trading runs with the Prairie Fire. Despite the improved offensive output, Knox maintained control, taking a 67-51 lead into the final period.
The Lady Blues continued to fight in the fourth quarter, pouring in 32 points and shooting over 70 percent from the field in the frame. However, Knox answered every push, knocking down key baskets and free throws down the stretch to secure the 98-83 victory.
Jayln Patterson led all Lady Blues with a game-high 28 points to go along with six rebounds, shooting 10-for-20 from the field. Addison Minor provided a spark off the bench with 11 points, including three three-pointers, while Danielle Beach added nine points. Kallie Oestreicher and De'Jah Yankaway each chipped in eight points, and Cora DeSutter contributed seven points, five rebounds, and two blocks.
Illinois College shot 43.5 percent from the field and outscored Knox 27-10 in bench points, but the Prairie Fire finished the night at 57.6 percent shooting and were led by Bria Medina's 40-point performance, which proved to be the difference.
Up Next
The Lady Blues return to the road Saturday for another challenging conference match up, traveling to face No. 20 Ripon College with tipoff set for 3:00 p.m.
