MOUNT VERNON, Iowa — The Cornell College women’s basketball team went on a big scoring run in the final six minutes of the third quarter Tuesday and posted a 72-49 Midwest Conference victory over Lawrence University at the Multi-Sport Center.
The first-place Rams outscored the Vikings 24-2 to finish the third quarter to break open a close game.
Sierra Bisso led Cornell (14-4, 12-1 MWC) and all scorers with 15 points, and Anne Visser added 12.
Olivia Hoesley paced the Vikings (2-16, 0-13) with 12 points, and Lauren Deveikis and Nicole Cummins added 11 points apiece.
Shonell Benjamin grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for Lawrence to go with nine points, four assists and three steals.
Cornell had stretched its lead to 34-15 late in the second quarter before jumpers by Hoesley and Benjamin trimmed the margin to 34-19 at the half.
The Vikings then opened the second half on an 8-2 run, highlighted by Hoesley’s 3-pointer and capped by a Natalie Kramer free throw, to cut the lead to 36-27 with 6:08 left in the third quarter.
Lawrence then missed seven of its next eights shots from the floor and committed seven turnovers to finish the quarter. Cornell took control as Bisso scored five points and Diamond Boyd added four as the Rams built a 60-29 edge after three quarters.
The Vikings closed the margin to 21 points in the fourth quarter but could pull no closer.