GRINNELL, Iowa – Nebraska Wesleyan women's basketball fell to Grinnell College, 73-49, on Wednesday evening in a challenging road matchup at Darby Gymnasium. The Prairie Wolves were led by Mackenzie Griffin, who scored a game-high 17 points, but they were unable to overcome Grinnell's strong shooting and rebounding advantage.

How It Happened

Grinnell set the tone early, taking advantage of Nebraska Wesleyan's struggles to find an offensive rhythm in the first quarter. The Prairie Wolves made only five field goals in the period, while Grinnell hit 3-of-4 from beyond the arc and converted fast-break opportunities to open up a double-digit lead heading into the second quarter.

The second quarter saw Nebraska Wesleyan begin to find some offensive momentum. Mackenzie Griffin attacked the basket effectively, finishing through contact on several possessions, while Maddie Demke provided a spark with her first three-pointer of the night. The Prairie Wolves trimmed the deficit to single digits late in the quarter, but turnovers and missed opportunities allowed Grinnell to close the half with a 14-point advantage.

In the third quarter, Nebraska Wesleyan focused on attacking inside, with Griffin and Demke leading the way as four of the Prairie Wolves' 11 points came at the rim. However, NWU's six turnovers in the quarter proved costly, as Grinnell capitalized on the mistakes to maintain their lead. The Prairie Wolves' defense tightened, limiting Grinnell's perimeter opportunities, but the home team found ways to keep the momentum in their favor.

The Prairie Wolves continued to fight in the fourth quarter, with Mya Sohl and Genesis Watson combining for seven points. Defensively, NWU forced six turnovers. However, Grinnell's bench production and clutch free-throw shooting sealed the victory for the Pioneers down the stretch.

Inside the Box Score

• Mackenzie Griffin: Led all scorers with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting, along with three rebounds and a steal.
• Maddie Demke: Added 11 points, including two three-pointers, and pulled down four rebounds.
• Nebraska Wesleyan: Shot 36% from the field (18-of-50) and 27% from three-point range (3-of-11).
• Grinnell: Converted 42% of their shots from the field and out-rebounded NWU 38-28, including a 14-2 advantage in second-chance points.

Up Next

Nebraska Wesleyan will travel to Kearney for an exhibition matchup against the University of Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday, November 23. Tip-off is set for 2:00 PM.