GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College's women's basketball team got a great preview of things to come Saturday afternoon with a thrilling 78-75 Senior Day win over Lake Forest College in the season finale for both teams at Darby Gymnasium.
 
Every player who saw action for Grinnell (the team's lone senior, Sarah Toay '23, missed the game due to injury) is set to return for a team that improved vastly down the stretch.
 
Nikki Ware '25 set a school record for season free throw percentage after going 6-of-6 at the stripe. That put her at 88.2 percent for the year on 45-of-51 shooting.
 
Erin Lillis '24 was again electric for Grinnell, scoring 20 points. Aiyana Rockwell '24 tacked on a career-high 13 points, Ware had 12 and Sara Booher '25 posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Booher also blocked three shots.
 
Lillis also had three assists and three steals for Grinnell (10-13, 7-9 Midwest Conference).
 
Booher moved up to 13^th on Grinnell's career blocks chart with 42, while Lillis is 19^th in points (764) and field goals (282).
 
The Pioneers led 12-10 after one period and stretched that to 37-31 by halftime. Lake Forest (9-15, 5-11 MWC) then charged back, leading 63-56 after three quarters.
 
Lake Forest still led by five midway through the fourth quarter before Grinnell kicked it into high gear. Lillis began the surge with consecutive baskets and Ware drained a 3-pointer to make it 69-67 in favor of the hosts.
 
After Lake Forest tied it, Lillis scored in the paint for a 71-69 lead. Booher scored from close range with under a minute to go, pushing the Pioneers up by four.
 
Lake Forest closed within a point with 22 seconds left, but Ware sealed the win when the Foresters were forced to foul, hitting all four of her free throws to close out the victory.