BELOIT, WI — On a Wednesday night at Flood Arena, the Beloit College Buccaneers faced a challenging conference matchup against a high-powered Knox College squad. While the final score favored the Prairie Fire 83-51, the Buccaneers displayed significant resilience, particularly in the second half where they found their offensive rhythm.
Senior forward Hailey Johnson (South Milwaukee, Wis.) was the definitive bright spot for Beloit. Johnson turned in a stellar performance, leading the team with 19 points and 8 rebounds. She was remarkably efficient from the field, shooting 7-of-13, and was a force at the free-throw line, going 4-of-6. Johnson's ability to navigate the Knox interior defense provided the Buccaneers with a consistent scoring threat throughout the night.
Beyond the paint, Bailey Darneal (Colorado Springs, CO) provided a masterclass in long-range shooting. Darneal was a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, finishing with 9 points. Her shooting clinic in the second half provided a much-needed spark when the Knox defense attempted to collapse on the interior.
Off the bench, Aina Mallorqui (Valls, Spain) played nearly 26 minutes, contributing 7 points and 4 rebounds. Mallorqui's energy was infectious, helping the Buccaneers stay competitive in transition and battling for second-chance opportunities.
The game began with Knox asserting dominance, holding Beloit to just five points in the opening frame. However, the momentum began to shift as the Buccaneers settled into the speed of the game.
The true turning point for Beloit's confidence came in the third quarter. The Buccaneers recorded their highest-scoring period of the game, pouring in 17 points. During this stretch, the team found their touch from the perimeter, shooting a blistering 80% from three-point range (4-of-5) in the third quarter alone.
This momentum carried into the fourth quarter, where the Buccaneers added another 15 points. In total, Beloit outscored their first-half performance (19 points) by a significant margin in the second half (32 points), proving that they could make the necessary adjustments to compete with the conference's elite.
The Bucs return to the court on Saturday when they host Monmouth College in MWC action. Tip off from Flood Arena is set for 3 pm.
