Lady Lancers subdue Bethel on the road
MISHAWAKA, Ind. – A dominant fourth quarter lifted Grace’s women’s basketball team to a 67-53 rivalry win at Bethel on Saturday.
The Lady Lancers (4-7, 1-2 Crossroads League) muted Bethel to the tune of six fourth-quarter points. Grace, meanwhile, ripped off 19 points in the frame which was keyed by its pesky defense.
For the game, Grace scored 19 points off turnovers. Six of those came in the final 3:31 of action to seal the victory.
Micaela Box broke out of a slump by scoring a season-high 18 points to lead all players. She shot 7-of-10 from the floor with two 3-pointers and two assists.
Vironnica Drake was active with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, and Lexi Minix scored 12 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting performance.
In the first quarter, Grace took the lead thanks to the scoring of Minix. Minix ripped off 10 points in the first quarter, burying two 3-pointers and making all four of her shots.
Drake converted a late and-1 to hand the Lady Lancers an 18-13 lead.
Grace built its lead up to eight early in the second quarter after Lauren Godfrey hit a triple, but the Lady Pilots (3-7, 0-3 CL) climbed back.
Bethel managed to tie the game by halftime 32-32 after scoring 19 in the quarter. Grace shot 55 percent from the floor as a team.
Grace maintained a slight lead in the third quarter and went into the last stanza with a 48-47 advantage.
A 3-pointer from Micaela Box bumped Grace’s cushion up to six with seven minutes to play. Bethel tried to muster a rally by cutting the deficit to 55-52 with just under five minutes to play.
But Kyannah Stull drained a trifecta on the next possession, and Grace’s defense took care of the rest.
The Lady Pilots were held to just one point for the final 4:54 of regulation, and the Lady Lancers cruised to victory. Box and Drake scored on consecutive plays after turnovers as Grace won by 14.
For the game Grace shot a season-high 53 percent from the floor — the first time Grace has topped 50 percent in a contest.
Bethel was forced into 18 turnovers and shot 45 percent from the floor and 25 percent from beyond the arc.
Godfrey made all three of her field goals for eight points, and Stull added 4 points, 5 assists and 4 steals.
The Lady Lancers return home Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest against Huntington.