Tyria Heath (Mohican/Menominee) finished her spectacular season with a double-double, tallying 27 points and a career-high 10 rebounds

By Ted Schultz, Grinnell Athletics

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Grinnell College whipped off its best quarter in program history Saturday afternoon at Lake Forest College, but the host Foresters fought back to post an 83-69 victory in the regular-season finale for both teams.

The Pioneers erupted for a school-record 31 points in the first period, breaking the team’s previous best of 28 established earlier this season against Iowa Wesleyan University.

Tyria Heath (Mohican/Menominee) finished her spectacular season with a double-double, tallying 27 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. Her season point total of 549 ranks second all-time at Grinnell, while the 200 field goals and 131 free throws are both fourth.

Sofia Ahooja ’22 and Kathryn Stender ’21 each had 14 points, with Ahooja collecting three assists, as well. Ellie Gubbrud ’22 added two blocks and two steals for the Pioneers, who finish at 7-11 in the Midwest Conference and 11-14 overall.

Grinnell lit up the nets in the first period, shooting 63.2 percent from the field (12-of-19), 66.7 percent from 3-point range (2-of-3) and a perfect 100 percent from the line (5-of-5).

A 15-3 run turned a one-point deficit into an 11-point lead as Ahooja had seven points, Heath six and Stender two to put Grinnell ahead 18-7. Two free throws by Ahooja in the waning seconds put the Pioneers up 31-21.

After Lake Forest scored to open the second period, Stephany Dos Santos ’21 and Kate Tomczik ’22 each had baskets and Heath four straight free throws to push the Pioneers up 39-23. Lake Forest gradually rallied, though, and got within 49-36 by halftime.

The Pioneers retained control in the third period until Lake Forest made a late run and led 64-59 at its conclusion. The Foresters opened the fourth period with six consecutive points and never looked back while improving to 10-8 in the league and 13-12 overall.

During the game, Heath moved up in several Grinnell career categories. She is seventh in free throws (249), ninth in points (1,097) and field goals (403) and 13th in steals (98). Stender ranks 17th in 3-pointers with 54.

On the season chart, Grinnell finished 2019-20 with 379 free throws which is second all-time. The Pioneers’ point total of 1,626 is third and 561 field goals are seventh.

GRINNELL WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ALL-TIME BEST LIST MARKS IN 2019-20