Women One Step Closer to Tournament with Victory over Knox
With their postseason destiny in their own hands, the Pioneers fought off a tough effort Tuesday from Knox to claim a 71-53 win and get within a half-step – or so – of going to the Midwest Conference Tournament for the first time since 1992-93.
Grinnell now has a solid hold on the fourth and final spot in the championship event that determines the conference champion and recipient of the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
With a 9-5 MWC record and two games to go, Grinnell finishes no worse than 9-7 and no better than 11-5. Carroll is on Grinnell’s heels and is sitting at 7-6 with three games to go. The Wisconsin Pioneers could finish with a 10-6 record if they win out, or get knocked out of contention with a single loss. If the teams finish with an identical record, Grinnell owns the first tiebreaker over Carroll, based upon their two head-to-head wins.
Grinnell finishes their season at Lake Forest (10-4 MWC) and at Illinois College (3-10 MWC). Carroll is at Lawrence (6-8 MWC), at St. Norbert (12-2 MWC) and home versus Beloit (3-10 MWC). Stay tuned for postseason updates by going directly to www.midwestconference.org
Against the Prairie Fire, Lindsay Peter ’05 had 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead Grinnell. Tai Duncan was 7 of 9 from the floor and finished with 16 points. Katy Bowen ’06 got it done with eight points, seven rebounds and four assists. The team hit 22 of 49 shots (44.9%) and out-rebounded Knox, 44-38.
Knox was led off the bench by Becca Drummond’s 14 points. Hillary Nelson chipped in 10 and had seven steals. The Prairie Fire shot only 32.3% (21 of 65) for the game and made only 3 of 18 three-pointers.
The win marked the final time the women’s team will compete in Darby Gym. In 2005, the squad will move to a new facility that sports a regulation-sized 94-foot floor and much-needed upgrades in lockeroom space.
Grinnell tips off Saturday at Lake Forest at 1:00. The Foresters clinched a play-off spot with their 62-53 win over Illinois College Tuesday.
#GC ATHLETICS#
Newspaper Box Score Knox College vs Grinnell College 2-11-04 5:30 at Darby Gym, Grinnell, Iowa At Darby Gym, Grinnell, Iowa GRINNELL COLLEGE 71, KNOX COLLEGE 53 KNOX COLLEGE (4-16, 1-13) Becca Drummond 5-8 4-6 14; Hillary Nelson 5-17 0-0 10; Andria Widaman 3-7 2-4 9; Liz Grana 4-10 1-2 9; Lindsay Fondow 2-5 1-2 5; Andrea Burke 1-9 0-0 3; Emily Fenwick 1-9 0-0 3. Totals 21-65 8-14 53. GRINNELL COLLEGE (15-6, 9-5) Lindsay Peter 6-10 3-5 17; Tai Duncan 7-9 2-4 16; Acrivi Coromelas 0-4 9-11 9; Katy Bowen 3-8 2-6 8; Anna Veit 2-7 0-0 6; Molly Lewis 1-2 3-4 5; Caitlin Shannon 2-3 0-0 4; Emily Kolbe 1-2 0-0 2; Brenda Cora 0-1 0-0 0; Amber Watson 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 22-49 23-34 71. Knox College.................. 19 34 - 53 Grinnell College.............. 32 39 - 71 3-point goals-Knox College 3-18 (Andria Widaman 1-1; Andrea Burke 1-6; Emily Fenwick 1-6; Lindsay Fondow 0-1; Hillary Nelson 0-4), Grinnell College 4-13 (Lindsay Peter 2-3; Anna Veit 2-6; Acrivi Coromelas 0-1; Katy Bowen 0-1; Amber Watson 0-2). Fouled out--Knox College-Becca Drummond, Grinnell College-None. Rebounds-Knox College 38 (Liz Grana 10), Grinnell College 44 (Lindsay Peter 10). Assists-Knox College 7 (Hillary Nelson 3), Grinnell College 14 (Katy Bowen 4). Total fouls-Knox College 23, Grinnell College 16. A-800 Women win final game ever in Darby Gym. Need one win or a Carroll loss to advance to the MWC Postseason Tournament.