APPLETON, Wis. – After battling its way back with a big third quarter, the Grinnell College women's basketball team saw Lawrence University pull away in the final frame for a 54-44 Midwest Conference victory Saturday afternoon.
 
Grinnell (2-6, 1-2 MWC) trailed 27-21 at intermission, but went on a big surge in the third frame to eventually tie things at 33-all on a layup by Erin Lillis '24 with 4:43 remaining and took the lead with her ensuing free throw.
 
Lawrence (3-4, 2-0 MWC) retook the lead, but again Lillis answered with a layup for a 36-35 lead with 4:11 left. However, the hosts got a pair of field goals for a 39-36 edge entering the fourth period.
 
Lawrence broke the game open to start the fourth period with nine straight points before Nikki Ware '25 drained a 3-poineter. But Grinnell could get no closer than nine as Lawrence sealed the win.
 
Lillis and Ware led a strong one-two offensive punch with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Ware and P.K. Hall '25 each had five boards, while Annabel Dougherty '25 and Sarah Toay '23 had four each.
 
Lillis led the assists department with three, while Dougherty, Sara Booher '25 and Lillis each had a steal.
 
Grinnell travels to Mount Vernon Wednesday to face Cornell College in a MWC matchup. Action begins at 5:30 p.m.