GRINNELL, Iowa –  Grinnell College's women's basketball made several valiant comeback efforts in the second half, but each time Knox College had an answer as the Pioneers lost a 74-62 decision Tuesday night at Darby Gymnasium.
 
Grinnell fell behind by 19 points by halftime, but cut the gap to 12 points once in the third period and 11 in the fourth.
 
Kayla Morrissey '18 had a huge performance in her final contest at Darby, scoring a game-high 26 points with the help of 7-of-8 shooting from the free throw line. She also had five rebounds.
 
Morrissey moved up to second all-time in the Midwest Conference in free throws attempted in a season with 202 and jumped to fourth in free throws made with 159. Both totals rank second in Pioneer history.
 
She also improved on her program-leading career totals of 408 made free throws and 527 attempted.
 
Tyria Heath '21 added 10 points, three steals and a career-high five assists for Grinnell, while Regan Kasprak '19 had five assists and two steals. Hanna Kessel '19 came up with two steals, too.
 
Knox (11-4 MWC, 16-7 overall) shot out to a 17-3 lead and was ahead 22-13 after one period before stretching the margin to 44-25 by halftime.
 
Grinnell (4-11 MWC, 7-14 overall) used a 9-2 run to turn a 19-point third-period gap to 12. Morrissey had a traditional three-point play, Claire Collier '21 hit a jumper and Kessel and Morrissey made baskets to make it 55-43.
 
Knox stretched its lead back to 59-44 by the end of the period and was up by 20 in the fourth frame when Grinnell made another surge, scoring nine points in a row. Abby Hellweg '19 began things with a jumper, Morrissey hit two baskets and a free throw and May Hanlon '21 scored to make it a 64-53 game with 4:23 left.
 
However, Knox scored four points in a row to go up by 15. Grinnell closed within 12 points twice after that, but that was as close at it would get.
 
The Pioneers close out their 2017-18 campaign Saturday against Illinois College. Action at Jacksonville, Ill., begins at 3 p.m.