The Pioneers avenged an earlier setback to Monmouth College by posting a 70-57 victory Monday night at Darby Gymnasium. The win, which snapped a four-game losing skid, improved Grinnell's record to 6-8 in the Midwest Conference and 8-13 overall. Monmouth, which entered the game fighting to get into the MWC Tournament, dipped to 8-7 in the league and 12-10 in all games.

Grinnell's Hannah Wolf '08 led all scorers with 19 points, while Jodi Watkins '09 - with perfect 4-of-4 3-point shooting - and Jessica Shotts '10 were also in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Wolf and Jessica Vaverka '11 had nine rebounds apiece, Wolf and Miki Nakamura '10 had five assists each and Nakamura also had three steals. Elise Waldorf led Monmouth with 14 points.

After falling behind by four right off the bat, the Pioneers caught fire with a 19-5 run for a 19-9 lead with 14:22 to go in the first half. Wolf had seven points during the run, Shotts six and Nakamura three. Monmouth still hung close and was within nine when Grinnell closed the half with a 9-4 run for a 44-30 lead at intermission. Vaverka sparked the spurt with four points.

The Pioneers continued to cruise in the second half, building their lead to 17 when free throws by Vaverka made it 55-38 with 11:35 left. But Monmouth gradually chipped away and came as close as four points when Alison Andrews' free throws with 5:22 made it 56-52. But Grinnell countered with a key seven-point run to make it 63-52 with 4:10 left. Wolf began the run with a jumper and free throw, while Mallory Scharf '11 and Nakamura followed with baskets. The visitors got within eight a bit later before Grinnell sealed with deal with another seven-point run to make it 70-55 with less than a minute to go. Wolf and Vaverka had baskets in that span and Watkins drained a 3-pointer.

Grinnell plays its final home regular-season game Wednesday when Knox College visits for a 5 p.m. contest at Darby. The Pioneers then close out the regular season Saturday at Illinois College.