Stearns Scores 18 but Scots Fall at Grinnell

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (01/23/2025) — The Monmouth College women's basketball team went back on the road Wednesday night and lost 82-62 at Grinnell. The Fighting Scots (4-13, 1-7) will be back at home pn Saturday against Lawrence.

Grinnell jumped out to a 5-0 lead and they led 10-5 as Ella Goodrich (Minonk, Illinois) made a bucket and a 3-pointer. Ashley Jones (Abingdon, Illinois) scored Monmouth's next six points and Kynlee Stearns (Gilson, Illinois) cut the Pioneers lead to one. Jones scored at the end of the quarter for a 17-16 Monmouth lead.

Grinnell took the lead for good at 20-19 and they outscored Monmouth 16-8 in the second quarter. The Scots picked up field goals from Delaney Scheidenhelm (New Berlin, Illinois), Allie Hoy (Woodland, Illinois) and two from Jones.

Down 32-25 at half, the Scots gave up a 5-0 run to start the half. Goodrich ended the run and Scheidenhelm completed a 3-point play. Averi Rangel (Moline, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to three but the Pioneers finished the third quarter on a 22-4 run to lead 58-37

Monmouth won the fourth quarter 25-24 but never got closer than 15 points. Stearns knocked down six field goals in the quarter and scored 16 points in the process.

Stearns led the way with 18 points for the game while Jones and Goodrich both scored 14 points. Goodrich led the team with six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Jones has scored in double figures 13 times this season ... Stearns has scored in double figures seven times including four of the last five games ... Goodrich also has seven games with at least 10 points ... Monmouth leads the all-time series 58-34 and are 5-5 in the last 10 ... Grinnell won both last year but the teams split in 2022-23 ... They meet again in Monmouth for Senior day and the season-finale on Saturday, Feb, 22 ... The Scots are at home on Saturday with a 1 p.m. game against Lawrence.