Lancers score 172 to set collegiate scoring record
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace College’s women’s basketball set nearly every record imaginable in a 172-91 win over Ohio Christian on Tuesday night.
The Lancers’ 172 points are the most points scored by a women’s basketball team in a single game at any collegiate level, including NAIA, NCAA Division I, Div. II or Div. III. Grace broke the previous collegiate scoring record of 159, held at the NCAA level by Grambling (set in 2024) and by Oklahoma Baptist for the NAIA division (1995).
Grace scored 93 points in the first half; that mark set a new NAIA record for most points in a single half, and it was one point away from the NCAA record set by UCONN in 2018.
The Lancers demolished their previous team scoring record of 118, beating that mark by 54. They passed that mark with 1:44 left in the third quarter.
Maddy Poynter also grabbed a piece of individual history, as she broke Grace’s free throw record. Poynter shot an eye-popping 17-17 from the charity stripe to set the new mark for free throws made in a game.
The first 1:22 of the game was scoreless, giving little hint to the scoring frenzy that was about to transpire.
Morganne Houk broke the deadlock with a pair of free throws, and the Lancers were off to the races. By the midpoint of the opening quarter, Grace led 18-8.
Abbie Ritzema rattled off four quick points for Grace with a layup which was followed up with a steal on the ensuing inbound pass and another score for the freshman guard.
The Lancers advantage grew to 20 points when Paula Fernandez started her own fast break with a steal and an easy layup on the other end.
Becca Gerdt had an old-fashioned 3-point play, and Ritzema rattled in a shot from beyond the arc as Grace led 47-21 at the end of the first quarter.
Poynter added a pair of points from the charity stripe to start the second frame as the Lancers’ offense continued to fire on cylinders. Grace went on a 9-0 scoring run to grow the lead to 60-25.
Bekah Longenbaugh hit a trifecta, and Braylin Terrell scored on another fast break as Grace refused to miss. The Lancers shot 67 percent in the first half.
Emma Sperry sank a deep 3-point shot to push Grace’s total to 90 points. Gerdt added a free throw, and Ritzema scored a last-second field goal to give Grace a 93-42 lead at the half.
Grace had eight players score in the first half, including six that scored double digits. The Lancers had 41 points off of turnovers and 60 points in the paint.
The third quarter proved to be the slowest offensive frame for Grace, but the Lancers still poured in 30 points.
Houk scored an and-1, and Kate Thomas hit a wing 3-pointer; Sperry followed shortly after with a triple of her own to push the lead to 60 points.
Poynter broke Grace’s old single-game record with a layup late in the third quarter, and the Lancers led 123-64 at the end of the third quarter.
Fernandez scored four consecutive points early in the fourth quarter as the Lancers rolled towards the record-breaking number.
Houk grabbed a steal and finished with a driving layup, and Gerdt got Grace to 158 points at free throw line, setting the stage for Grace to break the record on the next possession.
The history-making moment came from Sperry. She drove to the lane and hit a pull-up jumper to push the Lancers’ total to 160, officially setting a new collegiate scoring record.
The Lancers went on to score 12 more points, shattering the old mark and setting the new total at 172. The Lancers’ 172-91 victory also set the new program record for largest margin of victory at 81.
Grace averaged 4.3 points per minute and scored 46 points or more in three of the four quarters.
“I’m so proud of how this team has competed with joy,” commented Grace head coach Dan Davis. “This is something really cool for us to look back on and see that we really accomplished something special as a group.”
Five players scored at least 20 points in a balanced scoring effort. Poynter amassed 34 points with six assists, and Gerdt racked up 28 points, 9 rebounds, 5 steals and 2 assists.
Ritzema collected 21 points, 6 steals, 4 boards and 4 assists, Sperry had 21 points, 7 boards, 3 assists and 3 steals.
Terrell produced 14 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocked shots, Fernandez had 12 points, 5 boards, 3 assists and 3 steals, and Molly Long added 11 points, 6 boards, 3 assists and 3 steals.
The Lancers will travel to Cleary (Mich.) on Saturday at 1 p.m. to close out the week. Grace returns home on Nov. 19 to kick off the Crossroads League season, hosting Taylor at 5:30 p.m.