APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University women’s basketball team scored a season-high 53 points in the second half on Saturday, but the Vikings couldn’t reel in Grinnell College, and the Pioneers hung on for a 79-68 Midwest Conference victory at Alexander Gymnasium.
In the season finale for both teams, Alissa Hirsh paced Grinnell (11-12, 9-9 MWC) with 21 points and five assists. Michelle Briggs had a double-double for Grinnell with 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
Amber Lisowe led Lawrence (2-21, 1-17) with 19 points and a game-high six assists. Alex Deshler added 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals for the Vikings. Freshman Patsy Kealey chipped in with 13 points and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds for Lawrence.
Grinnell pulled away late in the first half, using a 7-0 run to stretch its lead to 25-10 with 3:18 left in the first half. The Pioneers led 28-15 at the break and used some hot shooting early in the second half to push the advantage to 47-24 with 16:00 left.
The Vikings were still down 19 at 64-45 with just under six minutes left, but Lawrence went on a 10-3 run to cut the margin to 67-55 with 3:19 left. Deshler had five points during that run and Lisowe buried a 3-pointer.
Grinnell recovered but Lawrence trimmed the lead to nine on two different occasions, both after 3-pointers by Lisowe and Deshler. Grinnell went 9-for-10 from the foul line in the final 1:32 to seal the victory.