Kintigh, Morgan Lead Scots Past Grinnell

Senior duo combine for 21 4th quarter points

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill (02/06/2022) — The Monmouth College women's basketball team won the front end of a home-and-home against Grinnell on Saturday. The Scots took the contest in Iowa by the final score of 74-66 as Jordan Kintigh (Goshen, Indiana) led the way with 23 points and Josie Morgan (Washington, Illinois) had 21.

The teams traded buckets early before Kintigh's 3-point play gave Monmouth a 7-4 lead. She scored on the next possession as well and Jadyn Mitchell (Flanagan, Illinois) made a 3-pointer for a 12-4 Scots lead.

The lead went to nine on a bucket from Kaitlyn Osmulski (Peoria, Illinois) and Morgan added two it with a pair of free throws. Down 18-7, the Pioneers went on a 5-2 run and eventually got to within four at the end of the quarter.

Osmulski and Kintigh scored to start the second quarter and put Monmouth up 27-19. The lead went back to 11 at 32-21 on a 3-point play by Osmulski. The Scots were scoreless for five minutes and their 34-23 lead was whittled down to 34-33 before Osmulski converted another 3-point play with eight seconds left in the half. She had 10 points before the break as Monmouth led 37-33.

Grinnell tied the game at 44 and took a lead at 46-44 before Morgan made three free throws. The Scots trailed 51-49 when Kintigh made two free throws but Grinnell took a 53-51 lead into the final quarter.

The Scots deficit grew to four at 57-53 and Kintigh tied the game on consecutive baskets. Lily Harlan (Washington, Illinois) put the Scots on top with 5:40 to play and Morgan drilled a 3-pointer for a 62-57 lead. Morgan scored again and Kintigh's bucket in the lane gave Monmouth a 66-57 lead with 2:57 to go. After the Scots went on top 70-60, Grinnell scored six straight but Morgan answered at the end of the shot clock for a 72-66 lead and just 38 seconds to play. Morgan's free throws iced the game as Grinnell missed shots on their last two possessions.

Kintigh led the Scots with 23 points and nine rebounds while Morgan went 9-for-9 at the line en route to 21 points. They combined for 21 of the Scots 23 fourth-quarter points with Harlan having the other two. Osmulski had 13 points and added eight rebounds, as did Morgan. Monmouth went 21-of-24 from the free throw line and outrebounded Grinnell by 11.

The Scots (10-6, 7-3) cap a four-game week as they host Grinnell (7-10, 4-6) in the return game on Sunday following the men's game. The Scots are 2-1 this week and have six games left in conference play, three at home.