Women’s Basketball clinches berth

The Monmouth College women’s basketball team played at Knox College on Wednesday, Feb. 12. They ended the first quarter leading 21-17 and they tied Knox for points earned in the second quarter, both scoring 15 points. Monmouth ended the first half leading 36-32. Knox outscored Monmouth in the third quarter scoring 22 to Monmouth’s 14. Monmouth trailed 50-54. Monmouth only scored 5 points in the fourth quarter, losing the game 55-69. Carley Turnbull led the team in points scoring 16 for the Fighting Scots. Becca Gallis followed scoring 11. For the game, Monmouth was 20-53 (37.7%) in FG, 4-16 (25%) for three-point attempts, and 11-15 (73.3%) for free throw attempts. This compared to Knox’s 25-53 (47.2%) on FG, 5-11 (45.5%) on three-point attempts, and 14-20 (70%) on free throw attempts.

Monmouth then moved on to play at home against Ripon College on Saturday, Feb. 15. Monmouth trailed in the first quarter, 11-19. They scored 16 in the second quarter compared to Ripon’s 19 and trailed at the end of the first half 27-37. The third quarter was Monmouth’s highest-scoring quarter, scoring 23 points. Monmouth trailed going into the fourth quarter 50-52. In the fourth, Monmouth pulled off a comeback win, scoring 21 points and giving them the lead of 71-66. Gallis led the team with 19 points followed by Turnbull with 13. For the game, Monmouth was 20-58 (34.5%) for FG, 12-25 (48%) for three-point attempts, and 19-27 (70.4%) on free throw attempts. This compared to Ripon’s 28-61 (45.9%) for FG, 2-9 (22.2%) for three-point attempts, and 8-12 (66.7%) for free throw attempts. With that win, Monmouth clinched a MWC Tournament berth.

Monmouth played Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, on Tuesday Feb. 18, losing 70-65. Monmouth is now 18-6 overall and 13-4 in conference play. They end regular-season play Saturday, Feb. 22, in De Pere, Wis., against St. Norbert College at 3pm.

Loren Fox - Contributing Writer