Lady Lancers grab dominant win over Asbury
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace’s women’s basketball team wrapped up the 2018 calendar year with a convincing 83-58 win over Asbury on Saturday.
The Lady Lancers (9-8) dictated the game on defense, keeping Asbury uncomfortable throughout the 40 minutes.
Grace’s defense was especially suffocating in the first half. The Eagles (3-11) were limited to just eight points in the opening quarter and quickly fell behind 18-8.
Brielle Wilson provided an offensive spark off the bench in the first quarter. She made all three of her shots for seven points in just over three minutes of action.
In the second quarter, Grace’s defense was even more lethal. The Lady Lancers forced Asbury into 12 turnovers, more than one per minute on average.
Vironnica Drake was a one-person wrecking crew defensively; she had six steals in the second quarter alone, adding 10 points and three assists in the period.
Brooke Sugg also caught fire with a trio of 3-pointers in the quarter, and Grace went into halftime with a commanding 45-22 lead.
Grace held a plus-seven advantage in rebounding (20 to 13) and forced Asbury into 21 turnovers before halftime. Sugg (14 points) and Drake (10 points) combined to outscore the Eagles’ team in the first half.
The remainder of the contest was evenly played. Grace’s outside shooting touch was missing after halftime, making just one of its nine 3-pointers.
Drake continued her dominance in the second half and nearly produced a triple-double. Drake finished the game with 20 points, 9 steals, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in less than 25 minutes of playing time.
Sugg tallied 18 points, 3 assists and 3 boards, and Kaylie Warble shot 5-of-5 from the floor for 14 points with eight rebounds.
Brooke Treadway amassed 10 points and five rebounds off the bench, and Wilson finished with nine points.
Lexi Minix had 4 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, Kyannah Stull added four points and five steals, and Kamryn Hostetler scored four points with three assists.
As a team Grace shot 46 percent compared to 39 percent for Asbury. The Eagles committed 36 turnovers overall, leading to 28 points for Grace off those errors.
The Lady Lancers remain at home, hosting a doubleheader with Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Jan. 5. The women’s game will tip off at 1 p.m. with the men’s game to follow at 3 p.m.
