GRINNELL, Iowa – The Grinnell College women's basketball team may have been down for a portion of Tuesday night's game, but the Pioneers were never out.
 
Grinnell rallied from an 11-point second-period deficit to trip up Beloit College 80-68 at Darby Gymnasium.
 
The Pioneers ended a two-game losing streak while extending their winning string against the Buccaneers to six games. Additionally, Grinnell has won eight in a row at home against Beloit dating back to 2014.
 
Erin Lillis '24 came up big again for Grinnell, scoring 24 points to go along with six assists and four steals. The latter two figures are career-highs.
 
Lillis moved into 20^th place on Grinnell's career chart with 744 points and 273 field goals. As a team, Grinnell had five 3-pointers and the Pioneers' total of 141 this season ranks eighth in program history
 
Sara Booher '25 added 13 points for Grinnell and nearly had a double-double with eight rebounds. She also blocked two shots, putting her at 15^th place for blocks in a season at Grinnell with 26.
 
Nikki Ware '25 tallied 12 points for Grinnell (9-13, 6-9 Midwest Conference) and Skylar Thomas '26 scored nine to go with a career-high eight rebounds.
 
Beloit (7-17, 3-12 MWC) came out on fire, bolting to a 10-2 lead early on and an 18-9 edge at the end of the first period. Grinnell gradually crept back, using a 14-4 run to go up by a point. Lillis had a jumper and Booher two baskets along with a free throw to make it 22-16. Lillis added another basket, Thomas drained a 3-pointer and Lillis made a jumper to put Grinnell ahead 23-22. However, Beloit rallied and was up 34-30 at intermission.
 
The third quarter proved pivotal for Grinnell, as the hosts outscored Beloit 28-16. The Buccaneers held their final lead of 39-38 at the 7:16 mark before Lillis made consecutive baskets, Ware a jumper and Lillis another bucket to make it 46-39 in favor of the hosts.
 
Grinnell kept it up, going up by 10 before entering the final period with a 58-50 lead. Beloit clawed within two points at 63-61 midway through the final frame, but Lillis sank a layup and free throw to start a 10-1 run that all but secured the victory.
 
The Pioneers will close out their campaign Saturday by hosting Lake Forest College at 3 p.m. The contest will also mark Grinnell's Senior Day, with the ceremony happening between the women's and men's games.