Lady Lancers Upset No. 5 Taylor In Overtime
February 6, 2020 at 4:11 a.m.
Lady Lancers Upset No. 5 Taylor In Overtime
By Kara Godsey-
The Lady Lancers overcame a 15-point deficit at halftime to send the game to overtime.
Vironnica Drake scored the go-ahead basket on a fastbreak layup, and the stiff Lady Lancer defense held the Trojans scoreless for the final 45 seconds of the game.
The Trojans (23-2, 11-2 Crossroads League) entered the game at the top of the league standings with just one loss on the season.
Kyannah Stull was unstoppable late, scoring 13 of her game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.
The Lady Lancers (16-9, 7-6 CL) kept pace early despite a barrage of 3-pointers from the Trojans. Buckets from Drake and Stull cut the lead to two points.
That was the closest Grace would get in the first quarter; the Trojans ended the quarter on a 9-2 run to claim a 21-13 advantage.
Grace struggled with its shot at the start of the second quarter until Kamryn Hostetler nailed a 3-pointer.
The Lady Lancers scored just eight points in the period, heading into halftime trailing 36-21.
Drake led the team with seven points at the half. Grace shot just nine percent from the 3-point line compared to 33 percent for Taylor.
Grace came out of the locker room with intensity. Drake scored two quick baskets, and Lexi Minix knocked down a 3-pointer as Grace went on an 11-3 run to cut the lead to single digits.
Later, Hostetler and Stull each connected from downtown to pull within five points. Brooke Treadway ended the period with an emphatic block.
Grace outscored Taylor by seven points in the third quarter, making the score 46-38 heading into the final stanza.
The Lady Lancers continued to chip away in the fourth quarter. Treadway and Maddie Ryman provided an offensive boost off the bench; however, Taylor held Grace at arm’s length, holding a five-point lead for most of the period.
Stull helped close the gap, draining a triple to cut the deficit to two points.
The swarming Lady Lancer defense forced Taylor to turn the ball over, and Stull converted a physical 2-point shot to tie the game at 55.
Grace’s defense forced another empty possession for Taylor. The Lady Lancers wound the clock down to two seconds but could not convert a potential game-winning shot in the paint.
Taylor knocked down a triple on its second possession of overtime to take the lead 58-55.
Drake responded with an excellent finish at the basket to pull within one point.
Minix knocked down a 3-pointer to give Grace the lead, but the Trojans responded seconds later with a triple of their own.
On Grace’s next possession, Stull earned two free throws and calmly sank each one to give Grace a one-point edge.
The Lady Lancers’ defense came through again, forcing the Trojans to turn the ball over.
On the fast break, Drake converted the layup that gave Grace a 64-61 lead with 55 seconds remaining.
Taylor responded by driving the lane, drawing contact, and sinking both free throws to keep the game close.
But Grace’s defense stood strong. Grace held the Trojans scoreless for nearly a minute.
Stull, Treadway and Drake each hit free throws to secure the 69-63 victory.
“I’m really happy for our players. It was exciting to see their joy on the floor tonight. I thought our heart, fight and grit made a big difference to beat a great program like Taylor,” said Grace head coach Dan Davis. “Kyannah and Vironnica had big nights obviously, but this was a total team effort. Lexi hit a big three, Maddie made a critical steal, and Kaylie and Brooke each had important moments for us. I’m very happy for this team.”
Defensively, the Lady Lancers forced 18 total turnovers with 14 of those coming after the first half. The Trojans’ 55 points scored in regulation were the third-fewest they have scored all season.
Stull led all players with 21 points, adding four boards and two steals. Drake stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.
Minix recorded 8 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Treadway made an impact on the defensive end with four steals and a block, and Kaylie Warble grabbed seven boards.
Grace finished the game shooting 41 percent from the floor and 23 percent from the 3-point line.
The Lady Lancers will host rival Bethel for a doubleheader on Saturday at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center. The women’s game will tip off at 1 p.m. with the men’s game to follow.
The Lady Lancers overcame a 15-point deficit at halftime to send the game to overtime.
Vironnica Drake scored the go-ahead basket on a fastbreak layup, and the stiff Lady Lancer defense held the Trojans scoreless for the final 45 seconds of the game.
The Trojans (23-2, 11-2 Crossroads League) entered the game at the top of the league standings with just one loss on the season.
Kyannah Stull was unstoppable late, scoring 13 of her game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.
The Lady Lancers (16-9, 7-6 CL) kept pace early despite a barrage of 3-pointers from the Trojans. Buckets from Drake and Stull cut the lead to two points.
That was the closest Grace would get in the first quarter; the Trojans ended the quarter on a 9-2 run to claim a 21-13 advantage.
Grace struggled with its shot at the start of the second quarter until Kamryn Hostetler nailed a 3-pointer.
The Lady Lancers scored just eight points in the period, heading into halftime trailing 36-21.
Drake led the team with seven points at the half. Grace shot just nine percent from the 3-point line compared to 33 percent for Taylor.
Grace came out of the locker room with intensity. Drake scored two quick baskets, and Lexi Minix knocked down a 3-pointer as Grace went on an 11-3 run to cut the lead to single digits.
Later, Hostetler and Stull each connected from downtown to pull within five points. Brooke Treadway ended the period with an emphatic block.
Grace outscored Taylor by seven points in the third quarter, making the score 46-38 heading into the final stanza.
The Lady Lancers continued to chip away in the fourth quarter. Treadway and Maddie Ryman provided an offensive boost off the bench; however, Taylor held Grace at arm’s length, holding a five-point lead for most of the period.
Stull helped close the gap, draining a triple to cut the deficit to two points.
The swarming Lady Lancer defense forced Taylor to turn the ball over, and Stull converted a physical 2-point shot to tie the game at 55.
Grace’s defense forced another empty possession for Taylor. The Lady Lancers wound the clock down to two seconds but could not convert a potential game-winning shot in the paint.
Taylor knocked down a triple on its second possession of overtime to take the lead 58-55.
Drake responded with an excellent finish at the basket to pull within one point.
Minix knocked down a 3-pointer to give Grace the lead, but the Trojans responded seconds later with a triple of their own.
On Grace’s next possession, Stull earned two free throws and calmly sank each one to give Grace a one-point edge.
The Lady Lancers’ defense came through again, forcing the Trojans to turn the ball over.
On the fast break, Drake converted the layup that gave Grace a 64-61 lead with 55 seconds remaining.
Taylor responded by driving the lane, drawing contact, and sinking both free throws to keep the game close.
But Grace’s defense stood strong. Grace held the Trojans scoreless for nearly a minute.
Stull, Treadway and Drake each hit free throws to secure the 69-63 victory.
“I’m really happy for our players. It was exciting to see their joy on the floor tonight. I thought our heart, fight and grit made a big difference to beat a great program like Taylor,” said Grace head coach Dan Davis. “Kyannah and Vironnica had big nights obviously, but this was a total team effort. Lexi hit a big three, Maddie made a critical steal, and Kaylie and Brooke each had important moments for us. I’m very happy for this team.”
Defensively, the Lady Lancers forced 18 total turnovers with 14 of those coming after the first half. The Trojans’ 55 points scored in regulation were the third-fewest they have scored all season.
Stull led all players with 21 points, adding four boards and two steals. Drake stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.
Minix recorded 8 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals. Treadway made an impact on the defensive end with four steals and a block, and Kaylie Warble grabbed seven boards.
Grace finished the game shooting 41 percent from the floor and 23 percent from the 3-point line.
The Lady Lancers will host rival Bethel for a doubleheader on Saturday at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center. The women’s game will tip off at 1 p.m. with the men’s game to follow.
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