GALESBURG, Ill. – Cornell held the Midwest Conference's top-scoring offense well below its season average, although fell a couple buckets short in Wednesday's 64-60 women's basketball loss to Knox at Memorial Gym.
 
Freshman Erin Knowles had another dynamic performance with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Rams (10-6 overall, 6-2 MWC), who slipped into a tie with Lawrence for second place at the halfway mark of the league race.
 
Knox, which came in averaging 78.1 points per contest, climbed into contention at 10-6 overall, 5-2 in the MWC.
 
Knowles registered her third double-double of the season. She had 11 points by halftime, reaching double-figures scoring for the 16th consecutive game.
 
A conventional 3-point play by Knowles gave the Rams a 27-25 lead early in the third period. The Prairie Fire surged ahead by as many as 10 points in the fourth quarter, but Cornell hung around to the end.
 
The Rams trimmed the margin to 60-55 on a free throw by Hailey Testolin, although then endured a four-minute scoreless spell that enabled Knox to close it out.
 
Hot-shooting Heidi Jorgensen buried four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points for the Rams. Tenley Cavanagh netted nine points off the bench with three triples. Reagan Wells chipped in eight points and eight rebounds. Maya Hodge added nine rebounds and four assists.
 
Bria Medina had 18 points to pace Knox, which was limited to 30.9-percent shooting.
 
Coming up – Cornell is home Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. matchup with Illinois College (3-5 overall, 6-11 MWC). The Rams won the first meeting in early December, 60-58.