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Kathryn Stender
Cory Hall
84
Winner Grinnell College GCW 1-1
78
Nebraska Wesleyan NWUW 0-1
Winner
Grinnell College GCW
1-1
84
Final
78
Nebraska Wesleyan NWUW
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Grinnell College GCW 19 25 16 24 84
Nebraska Wesleyan NWUW 13 22 22 21 78

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Ted Schultz

Pioneers get career nights from several players while snapping streak against American Rivers foes

LINCOLN, Neb. - Grinnell College's women's basketball team got offensive - literally - while snapping a lengthy streak Friday night.

The Pioneers held off some big runs by Nebraska Wesleyan University to post an 84-78 win, ending an eight-game losing streak to American Rivers Conference competition dating back to 2015. Additionally, the Pioneers point total is their highest in nearly four years.

Tyria Heath '21 erupted for a career-high 24 points and Kathryn Stender '21 and Kate Tomczik '22 each had double-doubles as the Pioneers evened their record at 1-1. Stender had a career-best 19 points with the aid of 5-of-7 3-point shooting to go along with 10 rebounds, while Tomczik had 10 points and 11 boards. Sofia Ahooja '22 was also in double figures with 10 points.

Stender and Ahooja also had career highs of two steals and six assists, respectively. 

The Pioneers used a 9-3 run to take command early in the first period, turning a 4-3 edge into a 13-6 lead. It was 19-13 at the end of the quarter before Nebraska Wesleyan came back in the second period, grabbing a 21-20 lead at the 7:41 mark. But then it was Grinnell's turn with a 10-1 run. Aidan Coalson '22 began the spurt with a basket, Stender sank consecutive 3-pointers and Heath added a layup to make it 30-22.

Grinnell went into the locker room with a 44-35 lead before the Prairie Wolves rallied in the third period, tying the game at 57-all. Ahooja scored three consecutive points to push Grinnell ahead 60-57 at the end of the quarter and began the fourth quarter with treys by Heath and Stender for a 66-57 edge.

Again the hosts charged back and went up 73-71 with 3:51 left. But again, the Pioneers responded to take command with a 10-0 run. Tomczik scored inside with 3:27 left, Mikayla Kricfalusi '20 scored inside at the 3:08 mark, Claire Collier '21 made one free throw and Ahooja two more for a 78-73. 

Tomczik added a basket with just under a minute to go and Heath sank a free throw with 34 seconds left to secure the win. During Grinnelll's late run, the 0-1 Prairie Wolves missed four shots and turned the ball over once.

The Pioneers play their first home contest of the season Tuesday when Emmaus Bible College visits Darby Gymnasium for a 6 p.m. test.
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