GRINNELL, Iowa – Tuesday night's women's basketball game at Darby Gymnasium turned out to be a wild ride for both teams, as Mount Mercy University hit a 3-pointer with under a second left to force overtime and then pulled away to beat Grinnell College 102-88.
 
Erin Lillis '24 had a stellar night for Grinnell, coming up with career-highs of 35 points and five assists to go along with six rebounds.
 
Grace Marsh '25 added 10 points for the 2-4 Pioneers and Sara Booher '25 and P.K. Hall '25 added nine boards apiece. Booher also blocked two shots.
 
Grinnell hit 25-of-35 free throws, with the make total ranking eighth in program history.
 
The 4-1 Mustangs led 21-15 after one period, but Grinnell raced back with a fury with a 24-11 second-period edge for a 39-32 halftime lead. Mount Mercy came back to tie it in the third period before Marsh's trey with :21 left put the Pioneers back up by three. However, the Mustangs scored on a last-second bucket to make it 56-all entering the fourth quarter.
 
Grinnell gradually upped its lead in the fourth period and made it a 10-point cushion at 78-68 on Sarah Toay's '23 jumper with 2:22 left. But again Mount Mercy rallied, coming within 82-81 on a layup with :08 left. Lillis was fouled 2 seconds later and hit both free throws for an 84-81 edge, but a last-second trey by Mount Mercy forced overtime.
 
The visitors opened the extra period with an 8-1 run and secured the victory from there.
 
Grinnell has a week off before stepping back into Midwest Conference play next Tuesday against Knox College. Action at Darby Gymnasium is slated for 5:30 p.m.