WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Brooke Sugg enjoyed one of the finest scoring performances in the history of the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center on Wednesday. Sugg exploded for 40 points in a 96-65 victory for Grace’s women’s basketball team against Spring Arbor.
Sugg set a scoring record for Grace’s MOCC, becoming the first women’s basketball player to score at least 40 points in the arena.
She is the only Crossroads League player to score 40 points so far this season. Grace’s Vironnica Drake is the next closest in the league with her 31-point outburst against Holy Cross on Nov. 10.
On top of that, Sugg and Drake also reached personal milestones in the game. Both players reached the 1,000-point plateau in their careers, becoming the 18th and 19th members of Grace’s 1,000-point club.
The Lady Lancers (6-5, 1-1 Crossroads League) made Spring Arbor uncomfortable throughout the evening. The Cougars (3-7, 1-1 CL) were forced into 28 turnovers thanks to 19 steals by Grace.
SAU found itself in an early hole, struggling to deal with Grace’s attack in the first quarter. The Lady Lancers started the game with 18 unanswered points. Sugg scored 10 points during Grace’s 18-0 start.
The Cougars managed to pull closer but still trailed 23-14 after one quarter.
On Grace’s first possession of the second quarter, the Lady Lancers re-established a double-digit lead after a made shot by Drake. SAU never sniffed the lead again.
Grace led 40-18 midway into the second quarter and owned a 16-point edge at halftime. Sugg netted 19 points over the first two quarters.
The third quarter saw SAU give Grace its best shot. The Cougars scored 24 points in the frame, but Grace still outdid SAU with 26 points.
Grace coasted in the fourth quarter en route to the final 31-point margin of victory.
Sugg connected on 15-of-23 from the floor, 6-of-10 from beyond the arc and 4-of-4 from the foul line. She added 4 steals, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 32 minutes.
Drake scored 12 points with eight boards, and Kaylie Warble added 11 points and 7 rebounds.
Kyannah Stull tallied 10 points, 3 steals and 3 rebounds, Kamryn Hostetler had seven assists and four points, and Pam Miller added 6 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals.
Olivia Pearson scored five points, Lexi Minix notched three steals, and Brooke Treadway hauled in five boards in five minutes.
Grace shot 50 percent overall from the field compared to 41 percent for SAU; Grace also outrebounded the Cougars by 12.
The Lady Lancers remain at home for a must-see game on Saturday. Grace hosts rival Bethel at 1 p.m. at the MOCC as part of a doubleheader with the men. The men’s game will start at 3 p.m.