MOUNT VERNON, Iowa - The Coe College women's basketball team completed the season sweep over Cornell on Wednesday evening, defeating the local rival 49-43. The win, which is Coe's third-straight, featured a career-high 20 points for freshman
Kelly Knight who was the game's leading scorer. Knight was 6-of-12 shooting on the night and hit 4-of-9 tries from deep while being the only Kohawk double-figures. Coe started the game well, getting an early 14-5 lead after the first quarter but the hosts fought back and built a four-point lead prior to the end of the half. The Kohawks answered with a dominant third-quarter effort, outscoring the Rams 20-6 while shooting 50 percent from the floor. Knight had nine points in the period including 3s on three-consecutive possessions. Cornell stormed back in the final quarter despite trailing by double-digits, slicing Coe's lead to just four with less than 30 seconds to play. Knight came up clutch yet again for Coe, converting four crucial free throws in the waning moments of the game. The win moves Coe to 7-3 on the season while Cornell suffers its first defeat in five games and drops to 5-5 overall.
GAME FACTS:
COE 49 - CORNELL 43
- Cornell opened the game on top, scoring the first five points to grab an early lead. Coe grew into the first quarter, getting its first over six minutes in on a 3 from Meagan Harvey. Coe then ended the period on top, scoring 10 unanswered points during the final four minutes of play. Harvey added another jumper during the stretch and Coe got a 3 from Molly Buck and Alyse Southard en route to a 14-5 advantage.
- Cornell dominated the second quarter, holding Coe scoreless for all but the final seconds. The hosts managed to put together a 15-0 run during the first eight-plus minutes to emphatically grab a six-point lead. Coe ended the drought with 33 seconds left in the half on a pull-up jumper, slicing the deficit to four before the end of the second.
- The teams traded blows in the early moments of the third quarter, but a pair of 3s from Buck allowed Coe to pull even at 22. Knight took control of the game just over one minute later, hitting three-straight 3s while leading Coe on a 14-0 run. Southard jumped in on the fun and added another 3 to the stretch, extending the lead to 10 before a layup from Kaalyn Petersen made it 36-24.
- Cornell scored the final points of the third, cutting the deficit to 10 with one quarter to play but Coe quickly answered, scoring seven straight to begin the period. Cornell refused to go away, using a 9-0 run during the next three minutes to pull within eight of the lead. Petersen restored Coe's 10-point lead momentarily with a layup but Cornell continued to roar back, getting a 6-0 run to close the gap to four with 24 seconds to play. Knight then came up clutch again, hitting four free throws in a pair of trips to the line, securing the win for Coe.
Up next: The Kohawks will return to the floor on Saturday, December 17 for another non-conference road game, this time traveling to Illinois College for a 2 PM tip.
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