FULL GAME NOTES

THE GAMES

-The Carthage College women's basketball team (5-3, 1-2 CCIW) will face Knox College for the first time in school history at Tarble Arena on Saturday, December 16 at 3:00 p.m.

-Saturday's bout marks the end of a three-game week for the Prairie Fire, who defeated Blackburn College 65-42 on December 11, and cruised past Robert Morris University (Ill.)-Springfield 71-52 on December 14. 

-Like the Lady Reds, Knox College has four players averaging double-figures in Jarrelyn McCall (15.9 PPG.), Morgan Potter (13.0 PPG.), Kyra Huffman (12.0 PPG.) and Karlie Thorn (11.7 PPG.). Huffman, who nearly averages a double-double with 9.5 boards per game, ranks seventh in NCAA Division III with a .630 field goal percentage. 

-The Prairie Fire fell to Ripon College 72-62 on December 9, the lone common opponent with Carthage to date.

-Knox's other loss this season occurred in a 65-61 decision against St. Norbert College on December 1. St. Norbert College recently had to cancel 10 contests that span from December 9, 2017 - January  24, 2018, and forgo postseason competition in 2017-18. 

-Potter paces the Knox lineup with 12 blocks while Hailey Leinart's 19 steals leads the way. 

-Knox is coming off a 13-10, 10-8 MWC campaign in 2016-17, which marked their first +.500 conference record since their 14-10, 10-4 mark in 1996-97. 

THE COACHES

Emily Cline is in her 10th season as Knox College head women's basketball coach. She was previously the assistant women's basketball coach at Buena Vista University and Sewanee: The University of the South. 

THE SERIES

The Lady Reds and Prairie Fire will square-off for the first time ever. 

LAST TIME OUT

The Lady Reds capped last week with a 74-67 advantage over Augustana on December 9, their first CCIW victory of 2017-18. Madie Kaelber returned to the lineup with 32 points on 11-of-17 shooting against Augustana, while Rachel Szydlowski tallied her fourth career double-double with 13 points and 13 boards in the contest.

Carthage began last week with an 81-77 OT loss to North Central (Ill.), which pushed their losing skid at Gregory Arena to four games. The Lady Reds pulled down a season-high 52 team rebounds in their loss to the Cardinals while Autumn Kalis led the squad with 22 points. 

SUNSHINE STATE 411

Carthage will face Drew University and Simpson College in Daytona Beach, Fla. on December 20-21. The Lady Reds carry a 5-2 all-time record in the Sunshine State. All seven contests in Florida took place in December. 

Dec. 29, 1998 | Webber (W 82-45)

Dec. 30, 1998 | Dominican (N.Y.) (W 67-63)

Dec. 31, 1998 | Oklahoma Christian (L 56-70)

Dec. 15, 2008 | Lawrence (W 66-40)

Dec. 16, 2008 | Hope (L 46-64)

Dec. 19, 2014 | Messiah (W 63-48)

Dec. 20, 2014 | Wells (W 69-35)

HOME-COOKING

The Lady Reds own a 7-2 record at Tarble Arena in 2017, which includes a 2-0 mark in 2017-18. Carthage's four-point, 15-11 hole against Augustana on December 9 marked their largest deficit at home this season. 

REBOUND, REBOUND, REBOUND

Carthage is 4-0 this season when they have more rebounds than their opponent. 

NEUTRAL SITE VIBES

The Lady Reds own a five-game win streak in neutral site contests. Their last loss in neutral territory occurred in a 67-60 decision against St. Vincent College on December 20, 2015. 

NOTABLE NCAA/CCIW RANKINGS (12/5)

Morgan Harris leads the CCIW with 82 rebounds, 10.3 rebounds per game, three double-doubles, 36.38 minutes per game and 291:00 minutes played. Her 9.0 defensive rebounds per game ranks 12th in NCAA Division III. Bailey Gilbert leads the CCIW and ranks 18th in the country with a .489 three-point field goal percentage. 

MILESTONE WATCH

Bailey Gilbert, who owns 147 career three-pointers, recently moved into fourth place on the Carthage all-time three-point field goal list. Haley Stercic (2011-14) holds the Lady Reds career record for most three-point field goals with 202. Morgan Harris currently ranks second on the Carthage all-time free-throw percentage list with an .800 (236-295) figure.