GALESBURG, Ill. – In a tale of two halves at Memorial Gym this afternoon, the Beloit College women's basketball team displayed a high-octane offensive start before ultimately falling to Knox College, 87-57. Despite the final score, the Buccaneers (6-16,3-10 MWC) spent much of the afternoon proving they could go toe-to-toe with the Prairie Fire (11-10,9-3 MWC) in a physical, fast-paced conference matchup.
Beloit came out of the gate with purpose, catching Knox off guard with a sharp shooting display in the opening quarter. The Buccaneers shot a blistering 64.3% from the field and 60% from beyond the arc in the first ten minutes.
The momentum was firmly in Beloit's favor midway through the first period. Following a successful jump ball won by Hailey Johnson (South Milwaukee, Wis.), the Bucs utilized a balanced attack to build a 7-point lead (21-14) with just over four minutes remaining in the quarter. Julia Kennedy (South Milwaukee, WI) and Aina Mallorqui (Valls, Spain) were instrumental during this stretch, finding seams in the Knox defense to keep the scoreboard moving.
By halftime, the game was a absolute toss-up. Beloit headed to the locker room trailing by just a single point, 38-37, looking every bit the contender to pull off the road upset.
Beloit's offensive effort was led by a trio of double-digit scorers who kept the team within striking distance for twenty-five minutes: Bailey Darneal (Colorado Springs, CO) was a force on both ends of the floor, tying for the team lead with 12 points while hauling down a team-high 7 rebounds. Kennedy matched Darneal with 12 points of her own, showing efficiency from the perimeter by knocking down two of her four attempts from three-point range. Mallorqui provided 11 points and 3 rebounds, acting as a steadying presence in the Buccaneers' backcourt. Johnson anchored the interior early on, finishing with 9 points and 5 rebounds.
The game's decisive turn occurred in the third quarter. After a competitive first half, the Prairie Fire adjusted their defensive pressure, forcing Beloit into a series of costly turnovers. Knox capitalized on these miscues, outscoring the Buccaneers 31-8 in the third frame.
The Prairie Fire utilized their depth and size to dominate the paint, eventually racking up a 68-36 advantage in interior scoring. Beloit struggled to recover from a 15-0 Knox scoring run that spanned the heart of the second half, a shift that effectively put the game out of reach.
The Buccaneers don't return to action until next Saturday, heading to Mt. Vernon, Iowa for a clash with the Cornell College Rams. Tip from the Small Athletic and Wellness Center is set for 3 pm.
