Women’s Basketball falters in Iowa

Erik Borresen

The Lawrence women’s basketball team lost a close game last Friday night against its Midwest Conference opponent, the Grinnell College Pioneers (4-10, 2-5 MWC).
The game was kept close for the majority of the first half until the Pioneers pulled away in the final five minutes of the period, leaving the score at 36-21 at the break.
The second half saw the Pioneers’ lead grow as large as 17 points before Lawrence went on a 23-6 run, tying the game at 52 with 5:35 left. Laura Aerts and Annie Kaiser, who contributed nine and five points, respectively, led the Vikings’ run during the stretch.
With 1:26 left, the Pioneers held a slim 60-57 lead, but a three-pointer and four consecutive free throws in the final 52 seconds ultimately sealed the victory for Grinnell.
The game ended with a score of 67-59, Grinnell’s largest lead of the last eight minutes of the game. Aerts led the Vikings with 16 points, Kaiser added 14 points, and Kanesha Walker had 13.
Last Saturday afternoon the Monmouth College (10-6, 5-4 MWC) women pulled away from the Vikings in the second half, going on to win 77-59.
The first 25 minutes of the game were close, and Monmouth held a small 37-34 lead four minutes into the second half. However, a 15-0 run by the Fighting Scots over the next five minutes put the Vikings away for good, as Lawrence never came within 15 points the rest of the game.
Aerts led the Vikings again with 15 points, and freshman Cathy Kaye scored 13 points. Walker pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds during the contest.
The Vikings, now 2-13 overall and 0-9 in MWC play, will next host Carroll University Friday night.