MOUNT VERNON, Iowa - Completing the first regular-season series sweep of Cornell College in nearly three decades couldn't have come at a better time for the Grinnell College women's basketball team.

The Pioneers stayed in the hunt for the Midwest Conference Tournament Wednesday night, toppling the Rams 59-44 for a key road win. The victory sent Grinnell from a fourth-place tie in the league up and past the Rams in the standings. 

With its first regular-season sweep of Cornell since the 1995-96 campaign, Grinnell improved to 7-5 in the MWC for third place. At 12-8 overall, Grinnell has its most victories since the 2016-17 season. Cornell fell to 6-5 in the MWC and 8-12 in all games.

The win was Grinnell's third in a row over Cornell, the longest streak against the Rams in nearly three decades. The 15-point margin of victory is the Pioneers' largest over Cornell since 2004.

The Pioneers dug themselves into a 5-0 hole right off the back, but then caught fire with a 10-2 run that was highlighted by Grace Marsh's '25 3-pointer and two-pointers from Nikki Ware '25, Erin Lillis '24 and Bailey Strovers '27.

Grinnell led 12-10 after one period and was ahead nearly the entire second period on its way to a 25-23 halftime lead. Cornell pulled within one midway through the third period before Lillis and Carolyn Pierce '27 gave the Pioneers some breathing room with a jumper and 3-pointer, respectively.

A strong finish to the quarter included a free throw by Juniper Schwartzman '27 and layup by Lillis to make it 42-36. Any hopes Cornell had to get back in the game were thwarted early in the fourth frame when Grinnell opened with an eight-point run as Aiyanna Rockwell '24 converted a layup, Sara Booher '25 added another and Lillis two more for a 50-36 lead. The Pioneers' defense was also critical at that time, forcing three turnovers over a two-minute span.

Grinnell cruised from there for the easy victory. Lillis was an offensive force for the Pioneers, hitting 10-of-12 field goals en route to a 22-point output. The 83.3 percent success rate ranks sixth for a game in program history.

Strovers added six rebounds, Lillis had five assists and Skylar Thomas '26 came up with a career-high two steals.

During the game, Lillis moved up to ninth on Grinnell's career chart for points (1,101) and field goals made (406) and 14th in assists (191).

Grinnell has yet another huge MWC test Saturday with a game at Lake Forest College. Action begins at 3 p.m.