Sugg’s 30 points propels Grace
SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – A massive performance from Brooke Sugg lifted Grace’s women’s basketball team over Spring Arbor on Saturday 71-61.
The Lady Lancers (15-13, 9-7 Crossroads League) have won five of their past six games and currently sit tied for fourth place in the league standings.
Sugg erupted for 30 points in the victory, and Vironnica Drake added 18 points and a career-high 13 rebounds.
Grace put its mark on the game early. The Lady Lancers scored the first 12 points of the game thanks to five points from Sugg and a 3-point play from Drake.
The Cougars (10-17, 4-12 CL) were held to 23 percent shooting in the first quarter and trailed 18-9 at the quarter’s end.
Midway into the second quarter, Grace made another surge. The Lady Lancers went on an 11-1 run to beef up their lead to 39-19. Drake had five points in the run, and Sugg added four more.
By halftime, Grace owned a comfortable 18-point lead.
Spring Arbor struggled to put together a rally and faced a double-digit lead throughout the third quarter.
The Cougars began to threaten in the final period. Grace led by 13 with 8:54 remaining, but SAU quickly cut the deficit to 55-46 a minute later.
Shortly after, Spring Arbor hit a pair of 3-pointers which sliced Grace’s cushion down to four with 4:10 on the clock. Sugg hit a timely bucket on the next possession to slow the Cougars’ momentum. Drake then converted an and-1, and the Cougars could not put together another push.
Sugg made 11-of-17 from the floor for her 30 points, hitting four 3-pointers to go along with 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.
Micaela Box finished with six points, Kaylie Warble had three points and five boards, Kyannah Stull had three points and three assists, and Pam Miller added four points and three boards.
Grace shot 44 percent from the floor, 30 percent from beyond the arc and 69 percent from the foul line. Spring Arbor was 38 percent from the floor, 36 percent on 3-pointers and 79 percent on free throws.
For the game, Grace had a season-low eight turnovers — the first time Grace had less than 10 this year. Spring Arbor was also outrebounded by seven.
The Lady Lancers end the regular season next week. Grace travels to St. Francis on Wednesday before hosting Taylor on Saturday at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
