WINONA LAKE - It's not often that a team can shoot 28 percent from the field and still pull out a win. But the Grace College women's basketball team did precisely that Saturday, defeating Concordia (MI) 58-42 to win the Grace Tournament Championship.

Tournament MVP Amber Riffell finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds for back-to-back double-doubles and the Lancer defense held Concordia to just 26 percent shooting. As well, Grace held a 52-38 rebound advantage, including 23 offensive boards that gave the Lancers opportunities to make up for its poor shooting.

Grace never trailed in the game and had numerous chances to put Concordia away but the offensive struggles kept the Cardinals alive. At one point, Grace led 46-35 with just over six minutes to play, but the Lancers went cold and the Cardinals closed to within five points. However, Grace scored its final 10 points from the free-throw line as Concordia was forced to foul to try to get back into the game.

All-Tournament player Abby Shafer had 12 points, six rebounds and three assists playing all 40 minutes at point guard for the Lancers. Amanda Downing contributed 10 points and eight rebounds while Theresa Clark finished with eight points and five boards.

Grace (3-3) has now won three consecutive games heading into its Mid-Central Conference opener Tuesday at Bethel at 7 p.m.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Saturday in Grand Rapids, MI

The Grace College men's basketball team learned its lesson well this weekend, coming back from a 13 point second half deficit to defeat NAIA Division I No. 28 Olivet Nazarene 77-74 Saturday in the consolation game of the Cornerstone Tournament.

Grace performed a similar feat Friday night, coming back from 15 points down to tie No. 8 Cornerstone, but the Golden Eagles scored the final five points of the contest to get the win. However, the Lancers made Olivet Nazarene pay this time.

A Micah Lavender basket with 13:06 to play put Olivet Nazarene ahead 63-50 but the Lancers were just beginning to find their rhythm. Grace went on a 14-4 run to close the deficit to three points and trailed 74-71 with two minutes to play.

However, freshman Michael Wienhorst made a pair of free-throws at the 1:13 mark and, after a defensive stop, Marcus Moore put Grace ahead on a basket with 20 seconds to play. Lavender turned the ball over four seconds later and Wienhorst made two more free-throws with seven seconds to play that gave Grace a 77-74 lead. Olivet Nazarene's Stan Chismark missed a game-tying three-pointer as time expired.

Grace sophomore Marcus Moore was named to the all-tournament team after posting 19 points and five rebounds. Senior Jeff Hamstra matched Moore's performance with a career-high 19 points, knocking home 5-of-8 three-pointers. Wienhorst came off the bench to score 14 and David Richmond added 12 and a team-high eight rebounds.

For the game, the Lancers were badly beaten on the boards as Olivet Nazarene held a 44-30 advantage. But Grace made up for it with only nine turnovers to Olivet's 16. As well, each team shot 16 free-throws, but the Lancers' 14 makes were five better than Olivet Nazarene's.

Grace (4-2) will open Mid-Central Conference play Tuesday at home against rival Bethel at 7 p.m. [[In-content Ad]]