Despite 17 from Cox, Scots Fall to Greenville at Home on Saturday

by Nathan Baliva

Monmouth, Ill. (11/17/2024) — The Monmouth College women's basketball team battled Greenville back-and-forth all game but ultimately dropped a 69-62 game on Saturday afternoon. The Fighting Scots (1-2) are back home again on Wednesday against Mount Mary.

The Scots got a couple looks on the opening possession and Olivia Dinges (Amboy, Illinois) swished a wing 3-pointer. Ella Goodrich (Minonk, Illinois) hit a jumper from the free throw line for a 5-2 lead. Brooklyn Sellers (Freeport, Illinois) completed an old-fashioned 3-point play with a bucket in the lane and Kynlee Stearns (Gilson, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer to give the Scots a 10-4 lead. After the Panthers hit a 3-pointer, Goodrich knocked down a long jumper for a 12-7 lead. Kiersten Cox (Illinois City, Illinois) scored down low right after entering the game and Ashley Jones (Abingdon, Illinois) made three free throws down the stretch for a 17-11 Monmouth lead after one.

Greenville started the second quarter on an 8-0 run to lead 19-17 before Dinges scored in the lane. Down 21-19, Dinges split free throws and the Panthers did the same. Greenville went on an 8-0 run to lead 30-20 before Cox made three free throws on two straight possessions. Stearns got the Scots second field goal of the quarter on a layup but the Panthers led 32-25 at halftime.

Greenville scored the first basket of the second half before Goodrich made a layup off a great pass by Stearns .Jones made a layup and Cox hit a free-throw line jumper as Monmouth cut the lead to 38-31. Cox scored again from the same spot and Allie Hoy (Woodland, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer from the corner as Greenville led 44-36. Madi Finch (Aledo, Illinois) as Cox drew a foul down low and Cox scored on the inbound for a 4-point possession. After a Panthers turnover, Finch scored to pull the Scots within two. Greenville finished the quarter on a 5-0 run to lead 49-42.

Hoy drilled a 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter and later made a free throw. Goodrich scored off a great pass by Dinges and the Scots were back within three at 51-48. The Scots split free throws on two trips and Cox hit a jumper for a 55-52 GU lead. Cox scored on a putback and then hit a jumper to tie the game with 2:51 to play. Finch answered a Greenville basket with a layup before the Panthers hit a free throw, Goodrich scored on a layup to give Monmouth their first lead since 17-16 but the Panthers answered with a basket. Finch put the Scots up 62-61 with 42 seconds left before the Panthers converted a 3-point play to lead by two with 30 seconds left. Monmouth called timeout but threw the inbounds pass away and the Panthers hit a layup. After a miss by the Scots, the Panthers scored again with 4 seconds left to win 69-62.

Cox led the Scots with 17 points off the bench while Goodrich scored 11 points for the second straight game. Jones had a team-leading seven rebounds while Gooddrich had four assists. Stearns and Jones both had two assists for Monmouth.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Cox had her highest scoring tally since netting 18 last November ... She was 7-for-10 from the field ... Finch had a career-high five rebounds ... The Scots shot 50% in the first quarter and 53.3% in the fourth quarter ... Monmouth won the rebounding battle 35-34 and were also +1 in turnovers ... The game had five lead changes, including two in the final minute ... Greenville leads the all-time series 5-2 with four straight wins ... Last year the Panthers won at home 85-62 ... The Scots play at home against Mount Mary at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.