GRINNELL, Iowa – Returning to the hardwood after more than a year-and-a-half layoff, Grinnell College's women's basketball team went straight for the record book.
 
The Pioneers toppled Central Christian College of the Bible 71-34 Saturday afternoon at Darby Gymnasium, with the opposition's point total being the fifth-lowest (apart from three forfeits) allowed in program history. It was the lowest point total by a Grinnell foe since 1990.
 
The 34-point margin of victory is Grinnell's biggest since a 2015 win over Mount Mary, and the team's 21 steals were the sixth-most in program history.
 
Grinnell had 17 players – most seeing their first collegiate action – take the court and was led by the scoring output of Nicole Ware '25 and Erin Lillis '24, who had 13 and 10 points, respectively.  All but three of the Pioneers who played dented the scoring column.
 
Kate Tomczik '22 and Sara Booher '25 added six rebounds each and Sofia Ahooja '22 dished out six assists. Lillis had four steals for the 1-1 Pioneers, while Ware and Annie Filkins '24 had three each and Ahooja two.
 
Grinnell shot out to a 5-0 lead on a 3-pointer by Ware and layup by Tomczik and never looked back. The Pioneers led 17-7 after one period and stretched that cushion to 34-15 by halftime. They held a 16-8 scoring edge in the third period for a 50-25 lead and tallied 21 points in the final quarter.
 
Central Christian, which was held to 25.6 percent shooting by Grinnell, fell to 1-2 with the loss.
 
Grinnell is back home again Monday night when Central College visits Darby Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.