GRINNELL, Iowa – The Grinnell College women's basketball team rung in the new year in historic fashion Friday night at Darby Gymnasium.
 
Sparked by Tyria Heath's '21 milestone night, the Pioneers shot past Lake Forest College 84-62 in Midwest Conference play.
 
Heath erupted for 40 points on the night, the eighth-highest total in Pioneer history and the highest scoring output by a Grinnell player since Hannah Wolf's 42-point game on Jan. 19, 2007. Slashing her way to the basket from all angles, Heath was 17-of-28 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line. Her field goal total ranks fourth in program history, just one shy of the school record and the most for a Grinnell player since Feb. 23, 1991.
 
Heath also had a career-high four steals as the Pioneers improved to 1-2 in the Midwest Conference and 5-5 overall. Lake Forest fell to 1-2 in the MWC and 4-6 overall.
 
Grinnell's point total is the second-highest against Lake Forest in program history, as is the 22-point margin of victory. Only Grinnell's 88-65 win over the Foresters in 1990 ranks higher in each category.
 
Heath was far from the only Pioneer to contribute to the win, though. Sofia Ahooja '22 nearly had a double-double with 14 points and a career-high nine assists. Kathryn Stender '21 also had 14 points and Kate Tomczik '22 grabbed 11 boards and blocked a career-high three shots. Ellie Gubbrud '22 and Stephany Dos Santos '21 each had two blocks.
 
Heath got Grinnell off to a fast start with two free throws and a layup. Gubbrud added a free throw and Heath another layup for a 7-0 Pioneer lead.
 
Lake Forest rallied, though, twice coming within one before Ahooja's trey in the waning seconds of the first period made it a 21-17 Pioneer lead. That 3-pointer was the start of a 12-0 run for Grinnell, as Heath made a layup, Stender a 3-pointer and two free throws and Heath another layup for a 30-17 edge.
 
The Foresters got within eight points a bit after that, but Grinnell took off again as Ahooja made two free throws and a layup and Stender two charity shots to push the hosts ahead 38-24.
 
Grinnell was up 44-30 at halftime and was never challenged after that, leading 59-46 after three quarters and 22 by the end of the game.
 
The Pioneers are back at it Saturday when Lawrence University visits Darby for a 3 p.m. date.