GRINNELL, Iowa – The new calendar year remained a perfect one for the Grinnell College women's basketball team as it knocked off Knox College 77-60 Tuesday night at Darby Gymnasium.
 
Grinnell, which has won three consecutive games in 2016, also won for the fourth time in five outings while moving to 5-3 in the Midwest Conference and 8-5 overall. Knox fell to 2-5 in league play and 7-5 overall.

The three-game winning streak matches one from last season, and is the longest winning streak in league play for the Pioneers since the 2011-12 season.
 
The Pioneers' balanced scoring attack was paced by Sophia Gatton '17 and Kayla Morrissey '18, who shared game-high honors with 16 points each. Gatton hit 3-of-6 shots from 3-point land.
 
Alissa Hirsh '16 added 13 points, five assists and two steals, while Gatton also had five assists and Morrissey grabbed nine rebounds.
 
Anne Boldt '16 and Alex Neckopulos scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.
 
Grinnell led 21-16 after one period and 36-27 at halftime before Knox rallied, eventually taking the lead. However, the Pioneers got a basket by Boldt to tie the game at the end of the third period and a free throw by Morrissey for a 50-49 edge heading into the final quarter.
 
The Pioneers then put the game away early in the fourth quarter. Leading by two points, Grinnell went on an 18-2 run for a 71-53 edge. Gatton had five points in the spurt, Hirsh and Neckopulos four each, Boldt three and Lydia Stariha '17 two.