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Grinnell College Athletics

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Bailey Strovers
Cory Hall
72
Winner Grinnell GC 16-7,10-4 Midwest Conference
49
Illinois Col. IC 9-14,6-8 Midwest Conference
Winner
Grinnell GC
16-7,10-4 Midwest Conference
72
Final
49
Illinois Col. IC
9-14,6-8 Midwest Conference
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Grinnell GC 20 16 13 23 72
Illinois Col. IC 9 11 14 15 49

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Ted Schultz

Pioneer women post milestones while inching closer to MWC Tournament berth

Grinnell wins by largest margin over IC in series' 42-year history

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - Tuesday night's victory at Illinois College not only moved Grinnell College within striking range of its first Midwest Conference Tournament berth since 2017, it provided the Pioneers a few more milestones, as well.

The 72-49 victory, Grinnell's largest winning margin in the 42-year series history, sent Grinnell to 16-7 overall and 10-4 in the league. The overall victory total is the Pioneers' highest in 21 seasons and the MWC winning total is the most for the team since 2017.

And for good measure, the Pioneers stretched their winning streak to five games - the first time they have won that many in a row since the 2015-16 campaign.

With Bailey Strovers '27 pouring in a career-high 25 points, the game was never in question as Grinnell scored the first eight points and led 20-9 at the end of the first period.

Sara Booher '25 added a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds for Grinnell, while Nikki Ware '25 scored eight points. Skylar Thomas '26 dished out six assists and Strovers came up with two steals.

Strovers and Ware began the onslaught with 3-pointers and Strovers sank two free throws, making it 8-0 barely a minute-and-a-half into the game. The hosts closed within 10-7 midway through the quarter before Strovers made two free throws, Thomas drained a trey and Booher put in a pair of free throws for a 17-7 lead. 

Leading by 11 after one period, the Pioneers pushed their lead to 36-20 by halftime and were ahead 51-34 after three quarters. Grinnell cemented the win with a final-period 23-15 scoring edge over the Lady Blues, who fell to 9-14 overall and 6-8 in the MWC.

Grinnell had several players climb the career chart during the game. Booher ranks sixth in games played with 92 and is 18th in field goals with 296. Ware jumped up to 13th for career points with 951 and Strovers ranks 15th in 3-pointers at 69.

Ware and Strovers are eighth and 13th for 3-pointers in a season with 54 and 48, respectively, and Strovers' 200 rebounds rank 14th. As a team, Grinnell moved up the all-time season chart with 363 free throws (third all-time), 1017 rebounds (fifth), 1573 points (seventh) and 302 assists (seventh).

Grinnell plays its regular-season home finale next Wednesday when Beloit College visits Darby Gymnasium. Tip-off is 5:30 p.m.
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