GRINNELL, Iowa – Things looked great for the Grinnell College women's basketball team early in its matchup with St. Norbert College Saturday afternoon.
 
But the Green Knights came back from an early seven-point deficit to defeat the Pioneers 59-44 in Midwest Conference action at Darby Gymnasium.
 
Grinnell went to 12-9 overall and 10-6 in the league while moving into a fourth-place tie with Knox College heading into the last week of the season. St. Norbert is 16-5 in all games and 13-3 in the league.
 
Kayla Morrissey '18 had 13 points, Sophia Gatton '17 scored 12 and Lydia Stariha '17 had nine. Morrissey also grabbed seven rebounds and had two blocks.
 
Gatton dished out three assists and had two steals.
 
It was all Grinnell at the start, as the Pioneers bolted out to leads of 5-0 and 9-2. Gatton began the scoring with a 3-pointer and Morrissey a layup. After St. Norbert scored, Neckopulos hit a jumper and Gatton a layup to make it 9-2 with 6:54 left.
 
However, the Green Knights scored 10 unanswered points to finish off the period and began the second frame with four more points for a 16-9 edge.
 
Neckopulos and Morrissey countered with buckets to bring Grinnell within three, but St. Norbert took off for a 27-17 halftime lead.
 
The visitors pushed their lead to 42-27 by the end of three quarters before Grinnell made one final charge. Trailing 46-30, the Pioneers rattled off nine straight points. Morrissey made four free throws, Gatton drained a 3-pointer and Stariha hit a layup to bring the Pioneers within 46-39 with 4:54 left.
 
But the Green Knights answered back and never led by less than eight the rest of the way.
 
Grinnell plays Knox College Tuesday night in Galesburg, Ill. The tip-off is at 5:30 p.m.