Box Score Monmouth did what they needed to do on the final day of the regular season with Saturday's 74-67 win at St. Norbert, but couldn't catch Ripon to tie for the Midwest Conference title and host the league tournament after the Red Hawks held off Knox.
 
A game back of the Red Hawks in the standings, the Scots pulled away in the final quarter at St. Norbert after a back-and-forth first 30 minutes. Knotted at 24-all after one quarter and again at 40-40 after three, the Scots inched ahead with a 24-18 fourth quarter advantage to finish second in the regular season for the second straight year.
 
Neither team led by more than five points until the final seconds of the game that saw 25 lead changes and 11 ties. The Scots took the lead for good on Becca Gallis' jumper with 1:06 left. Free throws by Gallis and Tarae Warner in the final 39 seconds pushed Monmouth's lead to 70-67, forcing the Green Knights to foul in the final seconds. The Scots iced the game when Warner and Shayne Smith each went 2-for-2 from the line in the final eight seconds.
 
Gallis poured in a game-high 26 points while Warner and Carley Turnbull added 12 each.
 
The Scots – the No. 2 seed – will open MWC Tournament play in Ripon, Wis., Friday night when they meet third seeded Cornell. Game time will be set early next week.