Lady Lancers Upset No. 17 Pikeville
November 21, 2016 at 5:27 p.m.
By Josh Neuhart-
The win over the NAIA Div. I-ranked Bears (6-2) ended the women’s portion of the Wyndham Garden Terry Polston Hoops for Hope Classic.
The game was about as evenly played as possible with team stats nearly identical in every category. Both teams shot 45 percent from the floor, and both sides hit 11 3-pointers. Both had a guard enjoy a career-best performance.
But the Lady Lancers (5-4) made more plays in key moments, holding off a seemingly unending array of comebacks from Pikeville.
The Bears held an eight-point edge after the first quarter thanks to a last-second 3-pointer. Lauren Godfrey fueled a Grace comeback in the second quarter with seven points in a two-minute span.
The teams went into halftime tied 39-39 after two late free throws by the Lady Lancers’ VIronnica Drake.
Pikeville grabbed a small lead midway through the fourth quarter, clinging to an 80-76 advantage with 1:27 remaining. Sugg buried a triple on the next play to give Grace a chance, and Darian Patton hit 1 of 2 from the foul line on Grace’s final possession to tie the game.
In the first overtime, Kelsie Peterson sparked Grace with a 3-pointer and Sugg followed with a bucket to give Grace an 85-80 advantage. Grace still led 89-83 with 1:38 to play, but the Bears remarkably forced another overtime with two 3-pointers, the last of which was hit with two seconds on the clock.
Grace jumped out to another lead in the second overtime, only to watch Pikeville nearly repeat its dramatic comeback. Sugg was dominant in the overtime period, outscoring the Bears 10-4 by herself over the first four minutes. Her last 3-pointer with 1:02 left gave Grace a six-point edge.
But the Bears found a magical touch from deep again, hitting a trio of 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds to make things interesting. Grace was saved at the free throw line, icing the win with five foul shots, including three from Drake.
Sugg’s career night also happened to be a program-record night. Sugg’s 32 points came on 11-of-22 shooting from the floor and 6-of-13 from beyond the arc. Her six treys tied a program record.
Drake scored 13 of her 19 points from the foul line, adding six boards, four assists and two steals. Peterson scored 16 points with three assists, and Patton added 17 points and three steals.
Godfrey produced nine points off the bench, and Chloe Pridgen tallied six more. Haley Richardson finished with five points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
The Lady Lancers play at No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan on Tuesday at 6 p.m. as part of a Crossroads League doubleheader with the men’s team.
The win over the NAIA Div. I-ranked Bears (6-2) ended the women’s portion of the Wyndham Garden Terry Polston Hoops for Hope Classic.
The game was about as evenly played as possible with team stats nearly identical in every category. Both teams shot 45 percent from the floor, and both sides hit 11 3-pointers. Both had a guard enjoy a career-best performance.
But the Lady Lancers (5-4) made more plays in key moments, holding off a seemingly unending array of comebacks from Pikeville.
The Bears held an eight-point edge after the first quarter thanks to a last-second 3-pointer. Lauren Godfrey fueled a Grace comeback in the second quarter with seven points in a two-minute span.
The teams went into halftime tied 39-39 after two late free throws by the Lady Lancers’ VIronnica Drake.
Pikeville grabbed a small lead midway through the fourth quarter, clinging to an 80-76 advantage with 1:27 remaining. Sugg buried a triple on the next play to give Grace a chance, and Darian Patton hit 1 of 2 from the foul line on Grace’s final possession to tie the game.
In the first overtime, Kelsie Peterson sparked Grace with a 3-pointer and Sugg followed with a bucket to give Grace an 85-80 advantage. Grace still led 89-83 with 1:38 to play, but the Bears remarkably forced another overtime with two 3-pointers, the last of which was hit with two seconds on the clock.
Grace jumped out to another lead in the second overtime, only to watch Pikeville nearly repeat its dramatic comeback. Sugg was dominant in the overtime period, outscoring the Bears 10-4 by herself over the first four minutes. Her last 3-pointer with 1:02 left gave Grace a six-point edge.
But the Bears found a magical touch from deep again, hitting a trio of 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds to make things interesting. Grace was saved at the free throw line, icing the win with five foul shots, including three from Drake.
Sugg’s career night also happened to be a program-record night. Sugg’s 32 points came on 11-of-22 shooting from the floor and 6-of-13 from beyond the arc. Her six treys tied a program record.
Drake scored 13 of her 19 points from the foul line, adding six boards, four assists and two steals. Peterson scored 16 points with three assists, and Patton added 17 points and three steals.
Godfrey produced nine points off the bench, and Chloe Pridgen tallied six more. Haley Richardson finished with five points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
The Lady Lancers play at No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan on Tuesday at 6 p.m. as part of a Crossroads League doubleheader with the men’s team.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092