Box Score MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – The Grinnell College women's basketball team hung with the unbeaten and nationally-ranked Cornell College squad in the first half, but the host Rams pulled away for a 66-45 victory Wednesday night in Midwest Conference play.

The contest will be shown on Mediacom at 8 p.m. Thursday night.

Michelle Briggs '13 posted a double-double for the Pioneers, who dipped to 4-4 in the league and 5-7 in all games, with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Tolu Alabi '13 also scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Alissa Hirsh '16 dished out four assists, Briggs had three blocks and Alabi, Hirsh and Briggs had three steals each.

Rikki Mulloy had 14 points for the Rams, who moved to 8-0 in the MWC and 13-0 overall.

Grinnell led 11-9 in the first half before a four-point run put the visitors ahead by six. Hirsh and Briggs both had baskets during the streak that put the Pioneers up 15-9.

After Cornell cut the gap to two, Abby Jaeger '14 nailed a 3-pointer to make it 18-13 with 9:27 left in the first half. It remained tight after that until a slight run by the hosts put them up by four at halftime at 30-26.

The Pioneers kept it close early in the second half, trailing by just five with 17:41 left after a layup by Anne Boldt '16. However, Cornell answered with a 14-4 run for a 49-34 lead and cruised from there.

Grinnell returns to Darby Gymnasium Saturday for a MWC contest against Lawrence University. Game time is 1 p.m.