Knox pulls away late to down Vikings

APPLETON, Wis. — The Knox College women’s basketball team pulled away in the final five minutes and posted a 94-80 Midwest Conference win over Lawrence University on Saturday at Alexander Gymnasium.

Jodi Marver paced Knox (9-9, 7-6 MWC) with 20 points as she hit 14-of-18 free throws.

Elizabeth Arco led Lawrence (0-17, 0-13) with a game-high 29 points, and she picked up eight rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks. Patsy Kealey added 17 points and seven rebounds for the Vikings, and Andrea Wilkinson had 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Knox won the game at the foul line as the Prairie Fire hit 32-of-50 foul shots. Lawrence, which went 18-for-29 from the line, was whistled for 32 fouls. Knox, which played a full-court press for the entire game, was called for 25 fouls.

Lawrence scored the first six points of the game and built its biggest lead at 19-11 on Arco’s layup with 12:38 left in the first half. Knox then went on a 14-0 run to grab a 25-19 advantage with 11:06 left before the break.

Lawrence came back to take the lead at 36-35 on Danelle Buck’s free throw with 3:47 left in the opening half. Knox rallied to grab a 45-41 lead at the break.

Knox pushed its lead to 71-59 on a pair of Carley Bechen free throws with 9:47 left in the game, but the Vikings rallied. Arco, Buck and Kealey all picked up baskets for the Vikings as Lawrence trimmed the margin to 74-69 with 6:01 left.

Lawrence was down 81-74 when the Prairie Fire hit four consecutive baskets, including a 3-pointer, to take control for good with a 90-76 lead with 2:11 left.

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