Medina’s Career-High 37 Points Fuels Second Straight Prairie Fire Win

Game Leaders

Millikin
Pts: 2 Players (#10, #30 - 16)
Reb: Emily White - 8
Ast: Tatum Young - 4
Knox
Pts: Bria Medina - 37
Reb: Brianna Arizmendi - 10
Ast: Kylee Callahan - 5

Team Stats

Millikin
Knox

Field Goals

(28-62)
(30-65)

Field Goal %

45.2%
46.2%

Rebounds

37
40

Assists

15
10

Turnovers

21
15

Pts off Turnovers

15
29

2nd Chance Pts

7
9

Pts in the Paint

40
44

Fastbreak Pts

1
11

Bench Pts

12
8
full stats
Nov 26, 2024

GALESBURG, Ill. — Bria Medina's stunning performance with a career-high 37 points helped lead the Knox College women's basketball team (3-2) to a 84-74 win Tuesday night over Millikin University (1-4).  

The reigning Midwest Conference Newcomer of the Year came out red hot to start the first quarter as Medina scored half of the Prairie Fire's 26 first-quarter points to head into the second quarter with a 26-16 lead. After an explosive start for the Prairie Fire offense, Knox struggled in the second quarter shooting 20 percent (3-of-15) from the field. The Big Blue capitalized on this cold stretch, heading into the half trailing by only four, 39-35. 

The third quarter saw a back-and-forth battle between Knox and Millikin with six lead changes alone in the quarter. With a slim 57-55 lead heading into the fourth quarter, Knox pulled away with 27 points to close out Millikin and secure the win. 

"It's always a nice feeling having a career-high," Medina commented over her performance. "We all had to pull through this game knowing it was going to be a difficult one. This win was important knowing conference play is about to start. I'm so proud of our team playing so hard and leaving it all out there on the floor."

  • The victory was just the second in the series for Knox against the Big Blue, though it had been almost 26 years since the last matchup with the last game being played all the way back on Dec. 10, 1998.
  • The Prairie Fire defense turned 21 turnovers into 29 points while Millikin had just 15 points off 15 Knox miscues.
  • Medina's previous career high was 31 points, scored last year in a 97-91 overtime road loss at Grinnell College on Jan. 26, 2024.
  • Fifth-year Sarina Dacio, coming off a 32-point game of her own, contributed 16 to the Knox cause with four 3-pointers, while junior Kylee Callahan added a dozen more while dishing out five assists.
  • Brianna Arizmendi led the Prairie Fire on the boards for the third straight game with 10 rebounds and came away with a team-high four steals as well.

The Prairie Fire will be back in action Dec. 3, as they travel to Grinnell College for their first Midwest Conference matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Darby Gymnasium. Live video and stats for the game can be found through the official website of Knox College athletics, PrairieFire.Knox.edu.