Grace can’t stop hot-shooting Trojans
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace’s women’s basketball team could not survive a barrage of 3-pointers from Taylor on Saturday during a 78-64 defeat.
The Lady Lancers did their usual damage on defense, forcing the Trojans (8-3, 4-2 Crossroads League) into 22 turnovers.
But Taylor was lethal from beyond the arc, hitting 19 triples in the game while shooting 48 percent from deep.
Grace also struggled mightily with its shot. The Lady Lancers (3-5, 0-4 CL) made just 32 percent from the floor and 28 percent (10 of 36) on 3-pointers.
Kyannah Stull and Kiersten Poor tied for the team lead with 12 points.
Kamryn Hostetler gave Grace a boost to start the game with five quick points.
Taylor jumped ahead soon after thanks to its 3-point shooting. A trio of triples by Taylor lifted the Trojans to a 13-point cushion.
Grace’s offense went ice cold, missing 11 straight shots before Hostetler scored again on a jumper.
The Lady Lancers ended the first quarter behind 20-9, but Grace showed fight in the second period.
Sarah O’Day gave Grace’s offense a much-needed jolt with six points in the second quarter; her last shot pulled Grace to within six.
The Trojans maintained their lead and entered halftime ahead 35-26. Grace shot just 31 percent from the floor in the half, including a 4-of-16 performance (25 percent) from beyond the arc.
Taylor, on the other hand, buried nine 3-pointers. But Grace forced Taylor into eight turnovers to remain in striking distance.
Hostetler and Stull began the third quarter with 3-pointers to pull within 35-32. But the rest of the quarter belonged to Taylor.
The Trojans were not to be stopped from deep, hitting 8 of 10 on 3-pointers in the third quarter alone. Taylor made six triples without missing during one stretch of the period.
Grace fell behind by 20 early in the fourth quarter before mustering one final push down the stretch.
The Lady Lancers used a 7-0 run and later an 8-0 run to keep pressure on the Trojans. But time ran out on Grace to erase the sizable deficit.
Stull finished with 12 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals, and Poor added 12 points and eight boards. Hostetler also reached double figures with 10 points and two assists.
Maddie Ryman scored seven points with three steals, and O’Day tallied eight points.
Kaylee Patton produced eight points and four rebounds, and Kenzie McMahon chipped in 2 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot.
“We have to play better and coach better overall. We are making a lot of the same mistakes, and we have to play smarter, take ownership and believe in what we are doing,” said Grace head coach Dan Davis. “We have to develop those things as a team, and we will. I believe that.”
The Lady Lancers have a quick turnaround, taking on IU East on the road on Tuesday at 7 p.m.