Lady Lancers Open Hoops Season With Victory
October 24, 2016 at 4:46 p.m.
By Josh Neuhart-
The Lady Lancers buried eight 3-pointers on Saturday, led by 23 points and five treys from Brooke Sugg off the bench.
Grace’s fullcourt press gave Holy Cross fits all game long. The Lady Lancers nabbed 19 steals and scored 30 points off those turnovers. Grace’s 19 steals were the team’s most since a Nov. 13 game against Calumet last year.
The season started on a bright note for Grace, opening up a 13-5 lead thanks to a pressing defense. Vironnica Drake, who scored 10 first-half points, scored Grace’s first points of the year on a 3-pointer.
But Holy Cross clawed back with an 11-0 run of its own to regain the lead 16-13 in the first quarter. Pam Miller ended the Saints’ run with a putback layup in the final seconds of the quarter to cut Grace’s deficit to 16-15.
In the second quarter, a late shooting spree by Sugg gave Grace a spark. Sugg buried a trio of 3s in the final 3:50 of the half, propelling Grace to a 36-32 advantage at halftime.
Grace shot just 35 percent from the floor in the first half, but the Lady Lancers (1-0) made up for it by nearly doubling up the Saints in the rebounding battle, 23-12.
Sugg’s strong day continued in the third quarter. The sophomore scored eight points in the period, including a 3-pointer to beat the buzzer and lift the Lady Lancers to a 10-point lead.
The Saints (0-1) made a push to start the final quarter, scoring the first five points to chop Grace’s lead in half. Holy Cross eventually came within four points of Grace’s lead, but Sugg hit a shot to give Grace breathing room.
Kelsie Peterson was instrumental in the fourth quarter, handling the Saints’ pressure and slashing her way to seven points in the period.
Grace hit four free throws in the final minute to ice the win, avenging last year’s season-opener loss to the Saints.
Sugg’s 23 points came on 5-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc, and Drake racked up 18 points, three rebounds and three steals in her collegiate debut.
Peterson tallied 16 points, five boards and two assists, Hannah Adams pulled down a game-high nine rebounds to go along with three points, and Darian Patton had eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals.
Grace held a dominant plus-18 advantage in rebounding, and Grace’s bench outscored Holy Cross’s reserves 39-18.
The Lady Lancers’ season continues on Wednesday night with a 7 p.m. game at IU-South Bend.
VOLLEYBALL
WINONA LAKE – Grace’s volleyball team swept St. Francis for its second straight win on Senior Day at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
Each of Grace’s seniors contributed in her own way on Saturday. Kaitlin Kerrigan had seven kills, seven digs and three block assists; Taylor Baird tallied 31 assists, four kills and two aces; Megan Johnson had a career-high 11 digs; and Grace Woolsey tallied four kills and three block assists.
“We played outstanding defensively today. This was definitely one of our best blocking efforts we’ve had this season,” said Grace coach Katie Van Hofwegen. “Our seniors stepped up big tonight. They had a solid group effort which motivated us to the win.”
Grace celebrated its senior class with a ceremony before the match. The early emotion might have carried Grace in the opening points as the hosts jumped out to a 7-2 lead.
The Cougars, who trailed for most of the set, refused to fade. USF used a 7-1 run to tie the score at 22-22. The Cougars then scored two more points to serve for the game at 24-22.
Kelsee Zuidema gave Grace a collective sigh of relief with a thunderous kill on the next point, and Grace never looked back. The Lady Lancers rattled off six straight points, ending the set 26-24 on an ace by Taylor Baird.
It was Grace’s turn in the second set to battle back from an early deficit. The Lady Lancers trailed by six until midway through the game.
Angie Mack gave Grace a much-needed boost with several pinpoint serves in a row. Grace went on a 6-1 spurt and never trailed again. Zuidema ended the set 25-22 on a block point.
A similar theme rang true in the third set. The Cougars led early (4-0), but Grace rallied back. The Lady Lancers used a 9-2 run to open up a four-point advantage. Grace’s run was sparked by two kills from Kaitlin Kerrigan and a pair of block points.
Grace sat on the verge of victory at 24-19, but USF showed tremendous resolve to win three straight points and set up a dramatic ending. But Grace finally secured the sweep after a violation by USF, ending the match 25-22.
Kari Feddema was the best player on the floor at times on Saturday. She had nine kills and blocked tremendously with one solo and five block assists.
Caylie Teel was another pillar to Grace’s defense, racking up 26 digs in three sets.
“Kari played really well in the middle tonight, and Caylie was amazing in the back row for us,” Van Hofwegen said.
Zuidema finished with seven kills, and Savannah Hart’s defense finished with one solo and four block assists.
As a team, Grace pounded out 11 blocks and held USF to a team hitting percentage of .086.
The Lady Lancers will have their home finale in the regular season on Wednesday, hosting Taylor for a 7 p.m. match at the MOCC.
The Lady Lancers buried eight 3-pointers on Saturday, led by 23 points and five treys from Brooke Sugg off the bench.
Grace’s fullcourt press gave Holy Cross fits all game long. The Lady Lancers nabbed 19 steals and scored 30 points off those turnovers. Grace’s 19 steals were the team’s most since a Nov. 13 game against Calumet last year.
The season started on a bright note for Grace, opening up a 13-5 lead thanks to a pressing defense. Vironnica Drake, who scored 10 first-half points, scored Grace’s first points of the year on a 3-pointer.
But Holy Cross clawed back with an 11-0 run of its own to regain the lead 16-13 in the first quarter. Pam Miller ended the Saints’ run with a putback layup in the final seconds of the quarter to cut Grace’s deficit to 16-15.
In the second quarter, a late shooting spree by Sugg gave Grace a spark. Sugg buried a trio of 3s in the final 3:50 of the half, propelling Grace to a 36-32 advantage at halftime.
Grace shot just 35 percent from the floor in the first half, but the Lady Lancers (1-0) made up for it by nearly doubling up the Saints in the rebounding battle, 23-12.
Sugg’s strong day continued in the third quarter. The sophomore scored eight points in the period, including a 3-pointer to beat the buzzer and lift the Lady Lancers to a 10-point lead.
The Saints (0-1) made a push to start the final quarter, scoring the first five points to chop Grace’s lead in half. Holy Cross eventually came within four points of Grace’s lead, but Sugg hit a shot to give Grace breathing room.
Kelsie Peterson was instrumental in the fourth quarter, handling the Saints’ pressure and slashing her way to seven points in the period.
Grace hit four free throws in the final minute to ice the win, avenging last year’s season-opener loss to the Saints.
Sugg’s 23 points came on 5-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc, and Drake racked up 18 points, three rebounds and three steals in her collegiate debut.
Peterson tallied 16 points, five boards and two assists, Hannah Adams pulled down a game-high nine rebounds to go along with three points, and Darian Patton had eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals.
Grace held a dominant plus-18 advantage in rebounding, and Grace’s bench outscored Holy Cross’s reserves 39-18.
The Lady Lancers’ season continues on Wednesday night with a 7 p.m. game at IU-South Bend.
VOLLEYBALL
WINONA LAKE – Grace’s volleyball team swept St. Francis for its second straight win on Senior Day at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
Each of Grace’s seniors contributed in her own way on Saturday. Kaitlin Kerrigan had seven kills, seven digs and three block assists; Taylor Baird tallied 31 assists, four kills and two aces; Megan Johnson had a career-high 11 digs; and Grace Woolsey tallied four kills and three block assists.
“We played outstanding defensively today. This was definitely one of our best blocking efforts we’ve had this season,” said Grace coach Katie Van Hofwegen. “Our seniors stepped up big tonight. They had a solid group effort which motivated us to the win.”
Grace celebrated its senior class with a ceremony before the match. The early emotion might have carried Grace in the opening points as the hosts jumped out to a 7-2 lead.
The Cougars, who trailed for most of the set, refused to fade. USF used a 7-1 run to tie the score at 22-22. The Cougars then scored two more points to serve for the game at 24-22.
Kelsee Zuidema gave Grace a collective sigh of relief with a thunderous kill on the next point, and Grace never looked back. The Lady Lancers rattled off six straight points, ending the set 26-24 on an ace by Taylor Baird.
It was Grace’s turn in the second set to battle back from an early deficit. The Lady Lancers trailed by six until midway through the game.
Angie Mack gave Grace a much-needed boost with several pinpoint serves in a row. Grace went on a 6-1 spurt and never trailed again. Zuidema ended the set 25-22 on a block point.
A similar theme rang true in the third set. The Cougars led early (4-0), but Grace rallied back. The Lady Lancers used a 9-2 run to open up a four-point advantage. Grace’s run was sparked by two kills from Kaitlin Kerrigan and a pair of block points.
Grace sat on the verge of victory at 24-19, but USF showed tremendous resolve to win three straight points and set up a dramatic ending. But Grace finally secured the sweep after a violation by USF, ending the match 25-22.
Kari Feddema was the best player on the floor at times on Saturday. She had nine kills and blocked tremendously with one solo and five block assists.
Caylie Teel was another pillar to Grace’s defense, racking up 26 digs in three sets.
“Kari played really well in the middle tonight, and Caylie was amazing in the back row for us,” Van Hofwegen said.
Zuidema finished with seven kills, and Savannah Hart’s defense finished with one solo and four block assists.
As a team, Grace pounded out 11 blocks and held USF to a team hitting percentage of .086.
The Lady Lancers will have their home finale in the regular season on Wednesday, hosting Taylor for a 7 p.m. match at the MOCC.
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