By: Illinois College got within four points in the closing minutes, but Grinnell made its free throws down the stretch to close it out.
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College women's basketball team hung tough with Grinnell College on Saturday afternoon, but the Pioneers did just enough down the closing stretch to earn a 75-65 victory over the Lady Blues. Grinnell moves to 11-8 (9-5 Midwest Conference) while IC drops to 10-9 (7-7 MWC).
Illinois College had a different starting five on the floor to start the game as the Lady Blues hoped for a spark from a lineup change. Though the team came out with plenty of energy and were down just 7-5 with three minutes gone, a 7-0 run from Grinnell prompted a timeout with the Pioneers out in front, 14-5. Grinnell would take a 23-15 lead after the first quarter.
Midway through the second quarter, the visitors would take a 35-22 advantage, but an 11-3 run followed by Illinois College to pull within five.
Melissa Solorio started the run with a three-ball and she added a layup moments later.
Grace Yaunches,
Shannen Quehl and
Brielle Greenleaf also had buckets as the Lady Blues made it a 38-33 game with less than 90 seconds until halftime. In the final moments, Grinnell would go on a 7-2 stretch and hit a three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer, re-establishing a 10-point lead, 45-35, at the break.
Things got worse before they got better for the Lady Blues. Grinnell controlled the third quarter and went ahead by 16 points, 60-44, after an Ariel Keller layup with 1:32 remaining in the period. Two Quehl free throws and a late three-pointer by Greenleaf supplied Illinois College with some hope however, making it a 60-49 game going to the fourth quarter.
Sydney Lett knocked in a pair of free throws with just over a minute gone in the fourth to bring the Illinois College deficit down to single-digits at 61-53. Both teams then went on a three-minute scoring drought before Solorio snuck inside for a layup with 5:39 to go, cutting it to a 61-55 lead for the Pioneers. The Lady Blues kept getting closer and a Solorio jumper assisted by
Jaicie Halleman made it 64-60 with 3:14 remaining. With time ticking away on IC, Grinnell's Sophia Gatton made a three with just over two minutes remaining to take a seven-point lead and the Pioneers then scored their final eight points at the charity stripe to seal the win.
Illinois College was led by Solorio, who finished with 19 points and eight rebounds. Quehl came off the bench for 17 points and nine boards, and Greenleaf finished with 11. Foul trouble by Grinnell's Kayla Morrissey early on helped limit the MWC's leading scorer to 13 points on the afternoon, but she ended as one of four Pioneers in double-figures, including 15 by Lydia Stariha.
Illinois College will travel to Beloit College on Feb. 8 for a 5:30 p.m. matchup with the Buccaneers.
