Box Score GRINNELL, Iowa –  Grinnell College's Michelle Briggs '13 became the top shot-blocker in Midwest Conference history Sunday afternoon during the Pioneers' game against Benedictine College of Kansas at Darby Gymnasium.

Briggs swatted away eight shots in the Pioneers' 65-52 loss, giving her 250 for her career. The previous MWC best was 243 by Marie Mullooly of Beloit College from 1993-97.

Briggs also posted a double-double in the contest, coming up with a team-high 17 points and game-high 12 rebounds to go along with two assists.

Alissa Hirsh '16 added 11 points and Anne Boldt '16 poured in nine. Tolu Alabi '13 grabbed nine rebounds for the 0-2 Pioneers, Hirsh and Abby Jaeger '14 dished out two assists apiece and Jaeger also had a game-high four steals.

Justice Payne scored 23 points for the 9-1 Ravens, who are receiving votes in the preseason NAIA Division I national rankings.

Grinnell got off to a strong start, taking a 5-2 lead with the aid of a 3-pointer by Hirsh and layup by Briggs. During that span, at the 17:55 mark, Briggs tied the MWC for blocks when she knocked away a shot by Erin Murphy.

Just a bit over 30 seconds later, at the 17:19 mark, Briggs got the record all to herself with another block of a Murphy shot.

Benedictine later took the lead and went ahead by as many as six before Grinnell roared back to force a 16-all tie on a layup by Briggs.

The teams continued to battle on even terms with Benedictine holding a 27-24 lead at halftime.

Benedictine took a nine-point lead early in the second half, but the Pioneers rallied with a nine-point run to tie the contest as Alex Plemmons '15 hit a layup, Alabi added another layup, Hirsh and Briggs hit jumpers and Boldt sank a free throw. That made it 33-all with 14:36 left.

Grinnell later went ahead 38-35 on a 3-pointer by Hirsh with 13:14 left, but the Ravens answered with a nine-point run to go ahead 44-38.

A layup by Briggs brought Grinnell within 44-40 with 9:22 left, but the visitors followed with a six-point run and never let the Pioneers within eight after that.

The Pioneers open up Midwest Conference play Wednesday with a game at Knox College in Galesburg, Ill. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m.