GRINNELL, Iowa – One of the best senior classes in Grinnell College women's basketball history took center stage for its final home game, and then delivered in front of an energetic crowd.
 
The Pioneers rallied from an early deficit to knock off Illinois College 60-50 at Darby Gymnasium Saturday, giving them momentum heading into next week's Midwest Conference Tournament.
 
The senior class of Sophia Gatton '17, Alex Neckopulos '17, Lydia Stariha '17, Kaitlyn Norton '17, Haley Lopez '17, Leah Greenberg '17 and Ariel Keller '17 helped Grinnell finish off Midwest Conference play with a 12-6 mark, matching the most wins in program history.
 
Grinnell's combined 24 MWC wins in the last two seasons is best in the program's 41-year history. The team improved to 14-9 overall, with the 29 wins in the last two seasons the best for a two-year stretch since the early 1990s.
 
Gatton led the team with 14 points, while Lopez added 12 with the aid of perfect 6-of-6 free throw shooting. Kayla Morrissey '18 also had 12 to move her into 10th on Grinnell's all-time scoring chart with 950 points.
 
Neckopulos grabbed 10 rebounds, Morrissey dished out four assists, Gatton had three steals and Daria Guzzo '19 swatted away a career-high two shots.
 
Other than two ties, the Lady Blues – who finished at 8-10 in the MWC and 11-12 overall – led the entire first period and held a 15-12 lead at its conclusion.
 
The Pioneers took control in the second frame. Guzzo began with a free throw and Gatton drilled a 3-pointer for a 16-15 Grinnell lead. Norton followed with another 3-pointer and, after a basket by the Lady Blues, Keller made a shot for a 21-17 Pioneer cushion.
 
The Lady Blues rallied to take the lead, but Grinnell bounced back for a 28-25 edge at halftime.
 
Illinois College trailed by just one midway through the third period when Grinnell got hot by finishing the frame with a 9-1 run. Gatton and Morrissey each hit baskets and Morrissey also made a free throw for a 37-31 lead. After a basket by Illinois College, Lopez sank a 3-pointer to make it 40-33 heading into the final frame.
 
Illinois College got within three in the final period when Greenberg made a 3-pointer, Norton a layup and Morrissey a layup and free throw to put Grinnell ahead 50-39 with 3:23 left.
 
The Pioneers cruised from there for the victory.
 
Grinnell heads to Mount Vernon next Friday to take on host Cornell College in the MWC Tournament. The tip-off is slated for 5 p.m.