Grinnell College GCW 7-9 (4-5 MWC)

Cornell College CCW 9-5 (4-3 MWC)

Grinnell College GCW

7-9 (4-5 MWC)

Final

Feb. 01, 2022

Cornell College CCW

9-5 (4-3 MWC)

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Grinnell College GCW	8	4	15	15	42
Cornell College CCW	9	13	9	7	38

Summary
Box Score

Cory Hall

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 2/1/2022 8:55:00 PM | Ted Schultz

GC women come alive in 2nd half to collect key MWC win over Cornell

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa - After a 10-day layoff, a slow start didn't seem a surprise for the Grinnell College women's basketball team Tuesday night.

But the Pioneers put that start behind themselves in the second half, rallying from a 10-point gap to outlast Cornell College 42-38 in Midwest Conference play.

The win was key in the MWC standings race as Grinnell improved to 4-5 in the league and 7-9 in all games. Grinnell stretched its winning streak in Mount Vernon to two games, and has now won two of its last three against Cornell after losing 17. Cornell fell to 4-3 in the MWC with the loss and 9-5 in all games.

Rebounding was a major factor in Grinnell reversing a 15-point loss to the Rams in December. After getting beat on the boards 50-27 in that game, Grinnell grabbed a season-high 49 rebounds Tuesday while giving up 53.

Erin Lillis '24 led the Pioneers' balanced scoring attack with 13 points and Nicole Ware '25 had nine. Aidan Coalson '22 added nine rebounds and blocked two shots, pushing her career total to 40 blocks. That ranks 13th in program history.Sara Booher '25 contributed a career-high three blocks, while Lillis and Sofia Ahooja '22 dished out three assists each.

Cornell opened a 22-12 halftime lead before the Pioneers came to life. An 11-point run that spanned the late third period and early fourth proved to be the key.

Lillis nailed a jumper to finish the third quarter to cut Cornell's lead to 31-27. Lillis opened the fourth quarter with a trey, Ware blocked a shot and Ahooja scored in the paint to give Grinnell its first lead at 32-31.

Following a Cornell miss, Coalson scored in the paint. Grinnell forced two more missed shots and Ahooja drained a jumper in the lane, putting the visitors ahead 36-31 with 5:28 remaining.

The teams traded baskets over the next few minutes before Cornell came within 40-38 with 1:11 to go. Grinnell held the ball down the stretch before Lillis was sent to the line with 13 ticks left. She displayed ice in her veins by hitting both free throws to secure the win.

Grinnell is home Saturday to entertain Monmouth College in a Senior Day event. Tip-off at Darby Gymnasium is 3 p.m.

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