Lady Lancers top MVNU for 10th win
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – A back-and-forth game was secured by Grace’s women’s basketball team, beating Mt. Vernon Nazarene 60-55 on Saturday.
The Lady Lancers (10-8, 4-2 Crossroads League) won despite a poor shooting performance. Grace shot just 35 percent overall, including a chilly 3-of-19 (16 percent) from the 3-point line.
Vironnica Drake and Brooke Sugg powered Grace with Drake adding 18 points and Sugg scoring 17.
Grace opened up the game with a lead as an aggressive defensive attack made the Cougars uncomfortable.
Consecutive scores from Sugg, including a 3-pointer, put the Lady Lancers on top 17-12 in the first quarter. MVNU did not make a field goal for the final 4:15 of the period.
The Cougars (9-9, 2-4 CL) clawed back, however, starting the second quarter on an 8-2 run to claim a 22-21 lead. But again Grace’s defense locked down to freeze out the Cougars. MVNU only managed two points over the final four minutes of the half.
Drake sparked the Lady Lancers to the lead, scoring seven points in the quarter to give Grace a 28-24 lead at halftime.
Drake was nearly Grace’s entire offense in the quarter; she accounted for seven of Grace’s nine total points in the period. The Lady Lancers only shot 2-of-12 in the stanza but managed to hold a four-point lead at halftime. Drake’s 11 points led all players.
The Cougars opened the second half with back-to-back baskets to tie the game at 28-28, and Grace continued its cold slump with four straight misses.
Kamryn Hostetler finally broke Grace’s slump with a steal and fastbreak layup for a 30-28 lead. Minutes later, Hostetler converted an and-1 with a left-handed layup to put Grace up by five.
Late in the third quarter, Grace started to pull away.
Hostetler made another driving layup, and after a quick MVNU miss, Drake raced down the court and made an acrobatic scoop shot off the backboard while being fouled. Her free throw helped Grace to its largest lead of the game at 47-36. Grace went into the final quarter up 49-39.
The Cougars again proved to be resilient. Grace had opened up an 11-point lead after a pair of free throws from Brooke Treadway, but MVNU rallied with a trio of 3-pointers by Taylor Gregory to chop Grace’s cushion down to 58-55 with 1:30 remaining.
Hostetler hit a timely 3-pointer during MVNU’s run to keep Grace in front, and the Cougars were forced to foul with 21 seconds remaining. Grace missed both foul shots, however, giving MVNU a chance to tie the game.
But Grace alertly fouled in the waning seconds to send the Cougars to the foul line, preventing a potential game-tying 3-pointer. MVNU returned the favor with two misses at the charity stripe, and Sugg iced the win with two free throws.
Drake’s 18 points came with 11 rebounds, the game’s only double-double. Sugg stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 assists.
Hostetler produced 13 points and four boards, Treadway added six points and six rebounds, and Kaylie Warble had four points and five rebounds.
Grace outrebounded MVNU 42-35, including 12 offensive rebounds. Grace also got to the free throw line 10 more times than MVNU, making 15-of-18 overall.
The Lady Lancers remain at home on Wednesday for another Crossroads League doubleheader. Grace will host No. 25 St. Francis at 6 p.m. with the men’s game to follow.
