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Reese Stephens
Julia Marlin
63
Winner Grinnell GC 2-3,0-0 Midwest Conference
58
North Central (MN) NCU 3-5,0-0 UMAC
Winner
Grinnell GC
2-3,0-0 Midwest Conference
63
Final
58
North Central (MN) NCU
3-5,0-0 UMAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Grinnell GC 25 7 18 13 63
North Central (MN) NCU 15 9 13 21 58

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Ted Schultz

Grinnell women's basketball team holds firm down the stretch to secure victory at North Central

MINNEAPOLIS - Grinnell College opened up in impressive fashion during Saturday's 63-58 women's basketball victory at North Central University of Minnesota, but the Pioneers really showed their grit down the stretch.

Grinnell (2-3) leaped out to a 25-15 lead by the end of the first period and pushed its cushion as large as 19 points in the third quarter. But the hosts came back, closing within a single point with a minute-and-a-half remaining. 

But Skylar Thomas '26 (team-high 15 points) showed the ice in her veins, driving the right baseline for a bucket with 1:10 left and drawing the foul in the process. She made the free throw to put Grinnell ahead 60-56.

North Central (3-5) got a pair of free throws on its next possession and converted on both, making it a two-point game. Ava Wu '29 (11 points) sank one of two free throws on its next series to push the gap to three points with 33 seconds left. 

The Pioneers stepped up with impressive defense on North Central's ensuing possession and forced an errant 3-pointer with 11 seconds left. Wu made the hosts pay when she grabbed the rebound, drew the foul and made both free throws to push the lead to five.

Grinnell, which snapped a two-game losing streak, led by 10 after one period and was up 32-24 at halftime. The Pioneers began the third period with a 7-2 run as Juniper Schwartzman '27 and Thomas made layups and Kelsey Ericksen '26 (also a team-high 15 points) converted a 3-pointer for a 39-26 margin.

After a bucket by the hosts, Nora Lynch '28 sank a free throw, Ericksen drained a trey and Megan Walters '29 and Carolyn Pierce '27 got layups to build a 47-28 lead with 3:30 left in the third period.

North Central came back, though, cutting the gap to 50-37 by the end of the third period and continuing to close before Grinnell held firm down the stretch to secure the victory.

Schwartzman and Lynch each had six rebounds for Grinnell and Thomas dished out seven assists.

Grinnell opens Midwest Conference play Tuesday when Beloit College visits Darby Gymnasium. Tip-off is 7 p.m.
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