GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College's women's basketball team got hot when it needed to as the Pioneers held off a pesky Monmouth College team 55-46 Tuesday at Darby Gymnasium.
The win was key for the Pioneers as they stayed in the race for the Midwest Conference Tournament. They are now 8-5 in league play and 10-8 overall while extending their winning streak against the Fighting Scots to four games.
The Pioneers, who were shooting 27.7 percent from the field through three quarters, made 46.2 percent of their tries (6-of-13) in the final 10 minutes to secure the win.
Kayla Morrissey '18 posted her sixth double-double of the season for Grinnell with game-highs of 23 points and 10 rebounds. She was aided by 14-of-16 free throw shooting.
Leah Greenberg '17 added nine points, all on 3-pointers, while
Haley Lopez '17 dished out three assists.
Sophia Gatton '17 had three steals,
Ariel Keller '17 had two and
Alex Neckopulos '17 blocked two shots and grabbed seven boards.
Grinnell shot out to an 8-0 lead with baskets by Morrissey and
Kaitlyn Norton '17 and four free throws by Morrissey. Monmouth rallied to make it a 9-4 game after one period.
It was a 23-17 Grinnell lead through two periods before the Fighting Scots rallied to go ahead 24-23 early in the third frame. That's when the Pioneers responded, going on a seven-point run as Neckopulos hit a jumper and Morrissey added a 3-pointer and two free throws for a 30-24 lead.
It was a 34-28 later in the period when Grinnell went on an 8-2 run to pull away. Keller made a basket to close out the quarter and Norton opened the fourth frame with a 3-pointer for a 39-28 lead.
After Monmouth scored, Lopez drained a shot from beyond the arc to make it 42-30 with 7:58 left.
Monmouth came as close as five down the stretch, but Gatton hit a jumper Morrissey and Neckopulos free throws to account for the final nine-point margin.
With the loss, Monmouth fell to 2-11 in the league and 2-16 overall.
Next up: Grinnell is back in action with a game at Illinois College Saturday, starting at 1 p.m.
