ROCKFORD, Ill. – Cornell's women's basketball team leaned on its defense down the stretch to secure a 53-41 road win over Rockford Saturday afternoon in the Seaver Center.
 
Returning from a 14-day layoff from competition, the Rams finished the contest on an 18-5 fourth-quarter run and boosted their season record to 8-4 overall.
 
Cornell's Erin Knowles tossed in a game-high 21 points, highlighted by a 9-of-13 effort from the foul line. It was the sixth 20-point game this season for the impactful freshman forward, who added three steals.  
 
The Rams entered the game ranked No. 13 nationally in field goal percentage defense. That was on display in the fourth quarter, when Cornell made its move by limiting Rockford (1-8) to 2-of-17 shooting from the field.
 
Trailing 40-36 with less than seven minutes remaining, Cornell charged back with an 11-0 spurt to take control. Knowles started the flurry with four consecutive points and Heidi Jorgensen sank a 3-pointer that put the Rams ahead to stay at 43-40.
 
Maya Hodge hit two free throws and Reagan Wells drained a jumper to give Cornell a 47-40 cushion with 2:31 left. The Regents misfired on their final 10 shot attempts of the game, while the Rams went 9-of-12 from the free throw line in the final period.   
 
Wells finished with 10 points and four steals. Hodge totaled eight points and seven rebounds. A'ryn Jackson came off Cornell's bench to grab a game-high nine boards.
 
Coming up – First-place Cornell carries a 4-0 Midwest Conference record into next Saturday's 1 p.m. contest with Lake Forest (2-9 overall, 1-2 MWC) in Lake Forest, Ill.