GRINNELL, Iowa - Just three seasons ago, the Grinnell College women's basketball team handed Ripon College its only loss in Midwest Conference play.

And although the 2024-25 campaign is only about halfway completed, that fact has rung true again following Wednesday's battle at Darby Gymnasium.

Grinnell used a huge second half to knock off the six-time defending league champs 71-58, improving to 3-2 in the MWC and 9-5 in the process. Ripon fell from the ranks of the league unbeatens, moving to 3-1 in MWC play and 9-4 overall.

The victory snaps the Pioneers' four-game skid to the Red Hawks and also marks their largest victory over Ripon since the 2014-15 campaign.

Grinnell, which remained unbeaten in league home games this season, used stifling defense to hold the Red Hawks to 35.5 percent shooting from the field. That is their third-lowest percentage of the season.

Sara Booher '25 and Bailey Strovers '27 achieved their seventh and sixth double-doubles of the season, respectively. Strovers had 13 points and 12 boards, while Booher added 11 points and 11 rebounds while blocking seven shots. The blocked shots total ranks sixth in program history.

Nikki Ware '25 led Grinnell with 14 points and Adriana Perez '28 added 13. Nora Lynch '28 had a career-best three assists and Strovers a career-high three steals. Cassidy Pak '28 added a career-best for 3-pointers, making all three she tried.

Ripon led 15-13 after one period, but the Pioneers hung tough and grabbed a 29-27 cushion by halftime. After the Red Hawks scored to begin the third quarter, Strovers converted a layup to give the Pioneers the lead for good. She added a trey for good measure, putting Grinnell on top 34-29.

The Pioneers pushed their lead as large as 14 in the quarter when Pak's 3-pointer made it 51-37. Grinnell was up 54-43 after three frames before Ripon got a traditional three-point play to start the fourth quarter to make it an eight-point lead.

But the Pioneers wiped out any Red Hawk hopes of a comeback, as Perez went on a scoring frenzy by making a 3-pointer, two free throws and a layup for a 61-46 Grinnell lead. The Pioneers were never challenged the rest of the way.

During the game, Booher moved up to sixth on Grinnell's all-time chart for rebounds with 625. Ware now ranks 17th in career points at GC with 812 and is 19th in assists with 151.

Grinnell will look to avenge last month's loss to Lawrence University when the Vikings visit Darby on Saturday. Tip-off is 1 p.m.