GRINNELL, Iowa – Through the first part of Saturday afternoon's game, the Grinnell College women's basketball squad was poised to knock Ripon College from the ranks of the Midwest Conference unbeaten.
 
But the Red Hawks used a 20-10 scoring edge in the second period and 24-17 run in the third as they raced to an 81-53 win at Darby Gymnasium.
 
Tyria Heath '21 led Grinnell with 11 points, while Kate Tomczik '22 and Emmy Nyquist '23 had nine each. Nyquist's total, which included three treys, was a career high. Sofia Ahooja '22 came up with eight points and four assists, Ellie Gubbrud '22 grabbed seven rebounds and Kathryn Stender '21 blocked a career-best three shots.
 
Grinnell jumped on top right away on a layup by Tomczik. Later, trailing 3-2, the Pioneers got a layup from Heath and another by Ahooja to go ahead 6-3. Grinnell later took a four-point edge on Heath's 3-pointer, but Ripon rallied. Grinnell earned its final lead at 17-15 on a jumper by Stephanie Dos Santos '21, but the Red Hawks forced a 17-all tie by the end of the period.
 
Ripon opened the second half with a five-point run on its way to leading 37-27 at intermission. The visitors kept it up, holding a 61-44 edge after three periods and outscoring Grinnell 20-9 in the fourth frame.
 
Grinnell is 3-3 in the MWC and 7-6 overall, while the Red Hawks improved to 6-0 in league play and 10-3 in all games.
 
The Pioneers begin a three-game road stand Wednesday when they travel to Jacksonville, Ill., to face Illinois College. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m.