Defense Shines As Grace Sweeps Maple Leafs
February 10, 2022 at 11:52 p.m.
Defense Shines As Grace Sweeps Maple Leafs
By Josh Neuhart-
The Lady Lancers held the Maple Leafs to just 25 percent shooting during Wednesday’s win, which secured the season sweep of Goshen.
The Maple Leafs (11-15, 5-9 Crossroads League) did not have a player score more than eight points against Grace’s stifling defense.
Grace’s offense could not have started the game worse. The Lady Lancers (17-10, 7-8 CL) did not make a field goal for six minutes of action.
Fortunately for Grace, the team’s defense kept the hosts within striking distance. When Karlee Feldman scored Grace’s first field goal, the team only trailed by six.
Incredibly, the Lady Lancers managed to end the first period on top. Grace ended the quarter with eight unanswered points, the last of which was a deep 3-pointer from Kiersten Poor in the waning seconds to put Grace ahead 11-10.
The second quarter was much of the same. The teams struggled to get on track offensively, and Grace edged ahead 24-22 at halftime.
Grace (42 percent) shot significantly better than Goshen (25 percent), but the Lady Lancers committed 12 turnovers. The Maple Leafs struggled particularly from long range, making just 3 of 14 on 3-pointers (21 percent).
Grace did its best to pull away in the third quarter. The Lady Lancers scored the first six points of the half, including four from Feldman, to grab an eight-point cushion.
But Goshen battled back and trailed by just three at the end of the period. Goshen had no answers on offense in the quarter, shooting just 4 of 22 (18 percent) across the 10-minute session.
An early 3-pointer in the fourth period from the Maple Leafs trimmed Grace’s lead to two. But Grace’s defense locked in for the next five minutes,
Goshen was held without a point for the following five minutes, but Grace only scored three during that stint to lead 39-35 with less than five minutes to play.
The score remained tight until the final buzzer. Grace earned its way to the foul line and used free throws to remain in front.
Kenzie McMahon in particular was lethal from the line. The junior sank 9 of 10 at the free throw line in the fourth quarter, scoring all 11 of her points in the last stanza.
Goshen struggled to keep pace and were handed the six-point defeat.
Feldman led Grace with 14 points and 16 rebounds, shooting 7 of 9 from the floor. McMahon had 11 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists and 1 blocked shot, and Kaylee Patton added nine points with two steals.
Maddie Ryman finished with seven points and three assists, and Poor scored six.
“I’m super proud of this group tonight. We knew this would be a physical battle. Hats off to our ladies; we defended well as a team, especially against their top two scorers. In the fourth quarter we took care of the ball much better and knocked down free throws.”
The Lady Lancers end the week with a Saturday matchup at Taylor at 1 p.m. The Trojans won the first matchup in overtime in Winona Lake.
The Lady Lancers held the Maple Leafs to just 25 percent shooting during Wednesday’s win, which secured the season sweep of Goshen.
The Maple Leafs (11-15, 5-9 Crossroads League) did not have a player score more than eight points against Grace’s stifling defense.
Grace’s offense could not have started the game worse. The Lady Lancers (17-10, 7-8 CL) did not make a field goal for six minutes of action.
Fortunately for Grace, the team’s defense kept the hosts within striking distance. When Karlee Feldman scored Grace’s first field goal, the team only trailed by six.
Incredibly, the Lady Lancers managed to end the first period on top. Grace ended the quarter with eight unanswered points, the last of which was a deep 3-pointer from Kiersten Poor in the waning seconds to put Grace ahead 11-10.
The second quarter was much of the same. The teams struggled to get on track offensively, and Grace edged ahead 24-22 at halftime.
Grace (42 percent) shot significantly better than Goshen (25 percent), but the Lady Lancers committed 12 turnovers. The Maple Leafs struggled particularly from long range, making just 3 of 14 on 3-pointers (21 percent).
Grace did its best to pull away in the third quarter. The Lady Lancers scored the first six points of the half, including four from Feldman, to grab an eight-point cushion.
But Goshen battled back and trailed by just three at the end of the period. Goshen had no answers on offense in the quarter, shooting just 4 of 22 (18 percent) across the 10-minute session.
An early 3-pointer in the fourth period from the Maple Leafs trimmed Grace’s lead to two. But Grace’s defense locked in for the next five minutes,
Goshen was held without a point for the following five minutes, but Grace only scored three during that stint to lead 39-35 with less than five minutes to play.
The score remained tight until the final buzzer. Grace earned its way to the foul line and used free throws to remain in front.
Kenzie McMahon in particular was lethal from the line. The junior sank 9 of 10 at the free throw line in the fourth quarter, scoring all 11 of her points in the last stanza.
Goshen struggled to keep pace and were handed the six-point defeat.
Feldman led Grace with 14 points and 16 rebounds, shooting 7 of 9 from the floor. McMahon had 11 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists and 1 blocked shot, and Kaylee Patton added nine points with two steals.
Maddie Ryman finished with seven points and three assists, and Poor scored six.
“I’m super proud of this group tonight. We knew this would be a physical battle. Hats off to our ladies; we defended well as a team, especially against their top two scorers. In the fourth quarter we took care of the ball much better and knocked down free throws.”
The Lady Lancers end the week with a Saturday matchup at Taylor at 1 p.m. The Trojans won the first matchup in overtime in Winona Lake.
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