GALESBURG, Ill. — The Knox College women’s basketball team pulled away late in the first half and went on to a 98-80 Midwest Conference victory over Lawrence University on Friday night.
Krystyna Williams posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds for Knox (3-12, 3-7 MWC). Abby Owens added 17 points for the Prairie Fire.
Alex Deshler paced Lawrence (1-13, 1-8) with a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds. Chioma Ejimkonye added 17 points for the Vikings, and Cathy Kaye had 11 points and nine rebounds.
After a pair of Deshler free throws trimmed Knox’s lead to 27-19 with 6:57 left in the opening half, the Prairie Fire pulled away. Knox went on a 32-11 run to finish the first half and led 59-30 at the half.
Lawrence was plagued by 26 turnovers in the first half and finished with 48 for the game.
The Vikings opened the second half by going on a 22-7 run and cut the lead to 66-52 on Deshler’s jumper with 13:36 remaining. Lawrence got as close as 13 points on a jumper by Ejimkonye with 11:16 left, but Knox countered with an 11-2 run to put the game out of reach.
Lawrence travels to Grinnell College for a game on Saturday afternoon.