JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Despite the chilly temperature outside, the Grinnell College women's basketball team was red-hot in a key game against Illinois College Saturday afternoon.
 
The Pioneers shot a season-best 52.8 percent from the field (28-of-53) and scored a season-high point total in a 75-65 victory over the Lady Blues in a game involving two teams in the hunt for the Midwest Conference Tournament.
 
The Pioneers, who extended their winning streak to three games, are now 9-5 in the league and 11-8 overall. Illinois College fell to 7-7 in the MWC and 10-9 in all games.
 
Lydia Stariha '17 tied a career-high with 15 points for Grinnell, while Haley Lopez '17 netted a career-high 13 points with the aid of three 3-poiners.
 
Kayla Morrissey '18 tallied 13 points and Alex Neckopulos '17 recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Kaitlyn Norton '17 came up with two steals and Sophia Gatton '17 dished out seven assists.
 
After the Lady Blues scored the opening basket and later led 3-2, it was all Grinnell as the Pioneers went on a 17-4 run.  Stariha had a 3-pointer and two baskets, Lopez a pair of treys and Morrissey and Gatton baskets to put the Pioneers up 19-7 with 3:51 left in the first period.
 
Grinnell led 23-15 after the frame and went up by as many as 13 in the second period before taking a 45-35 lead into intermission.
 
The Pioneers pushed their lead as big as 16 in the third period when an Ariel Keller '17 layup made it 60-44. Illinois College sliced the gap to 60-49 by the end of the frame and came within 64-60 with 3:14 left.
 
However, Gatton stopped the rally with a 3-pointer and free throw to put Grinnell back up by eight with 1:21 left. The Lady Blues never got closer than six after that.
 
Coming Up: The Pioneers have a big home game Wednesday when Knox College visits Darby Gymnasium. The tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.