by By Ted Schultz
GRINNELL, Iowa – The Grinnell College women’s basketball team rung in the new year in historic fashion Friday night at Darby Gymnasium.
Sparked by Tyria Heath’s (Menominee/Mohican) milestone night, the Pioneers shot past Lake Forest College 84-62 in Midwest Conference play.
Heath erupted for 40 points on the night, the eighth-highest total in Pioneer history and the highest scoring output by a Grinnell player since Hannah Wolf’s 42-point game on Jan. 19, 2007. Slashing her way to the basket from all angles, Heath was 17-of-28 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line. Her field goal total ranks fourth in program history, just one shy of the school record and the most for a Grinnell player since Feb. 23, 1991.
Heath also had a career-high four steals as the Pioneers improved to 1-2 in the Midwest Conference and 5-5 overall. Lake Forest fell to 1-2 in the MWC and 4-6 overall.
Grinnell’s point total is the second-highest against Lake Forest in program history, as is the 22-point margin of victory. Only Grinnell’s 88-65 win over the Foresters in 1990 ranks higher in each category.
Heath was far from the only Pioneer to contribute to the win, though. Sofia Ahooja ’22 nearly had a double-double with 14 points and a career-high nine assists. Kathryn Stender ’21 also had 14 points and Kate Tomczik ’22 grabbed 11 boards and blocked a career-high three shots. Ellie Gubbrud ’22 and Stephany Dos Santos ’21 each had two blocks.
Heath got Grinnell off to a fast start with two free throws and a layup. Gubbrud added a free throw and Heath another layup for a 7-0 Pioneer lead.
Lake Forest rallied, though, twice coming within one before Ahooja’s trey in the waning seconds of the first period made it a 21-17 Pioneer lead. That 3-pointer was the start of a 12-0 run for Grinnell, as Heath made a layup, Stender a 3-pointer and two free throws and Heath another layup for a 30-17 edge.
The Foresters got within eight points a bit after that, but Grinnell took off again as Ahooja made two free throws and a layup and Stender two charity shots to push the hosts ahead 38-24.
Grinnell was up 44-30 at halftime and was never challenged after that, leading 59-46 after three quarters and 22 by the end of the game.
