Balanced effort yields rout for Lady Lancers
CHICAGO — Grace’s women’s basketball team enjoyed its start to the Roosevelt Tournament with an 80-45 drubbing of Robert Morris on Thursday.
The Lady Lancers (7-7) saw 12 players score in double figures, led by 16 points from Vironnica Drake and 15 from Brooke Sugg.
Grace outscored the Eagles (4-8) by double digits in three of the four quarters. The opening quarter saw 25 points for the Lady Lancers, started by a barrage of 3-pointers.
Sugg sank two 3-pointers in the first three minutes to jumpstart Grace’s offense, and Drake hit two more triples in the next two minutes. Grace went on a 13-0 run and took an 11-point lead by quarter’s end.
Grace’s defense muted Robert Morris in the second quarter, holding the Eagles to seven points. Sugg ended the half with a jumper in the final seconds, and the Lady Lancers led 43-21 at halftime.
Robert Morris managed to cut Grace’s lead down to 13 in the third quarter, but the Eagles would not get closer.
In the fourth quarter, Grace ballooned its margin up to 30 and did not look back.
Head coach Scott Blum substituted liberally in the second half; all 12 players who dressed played at least seven minutes, and no player topped 26 minutes of court time.
Drake’s game-high 16 points came with six rebounds and four assists, and Sugg buried three 3-pointers for her 15 points.
Micaela Box scored 10 points with three assists, Kaylie Warble shot 3-of-4 for nine points and five rebounds, and Lauren Godfrey produced seven points and three boards.
Kyannah Stull had six points and three assists, Pam Miller added six points and a blocked shot, and Lexi Minix grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
Grace held Robert Morris to 27 percent shooting compared to 44 percent for the Lady Lancers. Grace’s 45 points surrendered was the team’s best defensive output since a 51-42 win over Taylor on Jan. 21.
The Lady Lancers end their Chicago trip with a game against Roosevelt on Friday at 6 p.m.