GALESBURG, Ill. – A late run in the first period by host Knox College proved too big to overcome for the Grinnell College women's basketball team in Saturday afternoon's 79-57 loss to the Prairie Fire.
 
Grinnell rode a balanced scoring attack in the game, as Tyria Heath '21 scored 12 points, Kate Tomczik '22 poured in 11 and Kathryn Stender '21 added 10. Ellie Gubbrud '22 added a career-high 10 rebounds and Heath collected a career-best four steals.
 
Sofia Ahooja '22 added four assists and Emmy Nyquist '23 a pair of steals for the Pioneers, who are 3-5 overall and 0-2 in the Midwest Conference.
 
Grinnell struck first in the game as Gubbrud sank a jumper for a 2-0 lead. Twice the Pioneers went up by three, first at 5-2 on Heath's free throw and again at 7-4 following Stender's charity shots at the 4:09 mark.
 
However, Knox finished off the period with a flurry, outscoring the visitors 13-1 for a 17-8 lead. Tomczik made a free throw to start the second quarter and close the gap to eight, but Knox made consecutive jumpers and held off Grinnell for a 38-21 halftime lead.
 
The Prairie Fire, 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the MWC, held a 23-16 scoring edge in the third period. Both teams put up 20 points in the final stanza.
 
Grinnell will attempt to close out its pre-holiday slate with a victory Friday when it plays a non-conference contest against Waldorf College. Action in Forest City begins at 6:30 p.m.