LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Despite the outcome of Saturday afternoon's contest at Lake Forest College, the Grinnell College women's basketball team still controls its own destiny in its hunt for a spot in the Midwest Conference Tournament.
 
Grinnell dipped to 7-7 in the MWC and 10-12 overall with a 67-63 setback to the Foresters. That puts the Pioneers fifth in the league, one game behind fourth-place Cornell College.
 
Still, the Pioneers can clinch the fourth and final spot in the tourney with victories Wednesday at home against Knox College and next Saturday at Cornell.
 
Grinnell lost despite a sizzling shooting performance by Ava Wu '29, who erupted for a career-high 28 points on a 6-of-12 performance from 3-point land.
 
Grinnell bolted out to a 10-0 lead right off the bat, with Skylar Thomas '26 – who tied the program record for career games played with 96 - hitting a 3-pointer and free throw and Wu sinking two treys. But the Foresters battled back and led 17-16 after one period before the teams played to a 26-all halftime tie.
 
The Foresters built a 44-34 lead late in the third period, but then Grinnell roared back as Cassidy Pak '28 made two free throws and Thomas and Nora Lynch '28 each recorded 3-pointers to bring Grinnell within 44-42 by the end of the frame.
 
Lynch opened the fourth quarter with a layup to tie the contest. After a Lake Forest free throw, Bailey Strovers '27 made a layup and free throw to push the Pioneers ahead 47-45.
 
It was back and forth after that, with Grinnell gaining its final lead at 53-52 on Wu's 3-pointer with 4:00 left. But Lake Forest, 1-14 in the league and 3-21 in all games, answered with an 11-3 run and secured the victory at the free throw line.
 
Thomas had 10 points for Grinnell, while Strovers grabbed 10 rebounds and collected two steals. Pak dished out three assists.
 
Wednesday's game with Knox is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m.