MIDWAY, Ky. - Grace College Women’s basketball has a new scoring queen. Maddie Ryman set the program’s all-time scoring record in Saturday’s game against Midway.
Ryman scored 22 points in the contest including career point No. 1,982. That mark passed previous program record holder Vironnica Drake.
Her current total now sits at 1,991And needs just nine points to become the program’s first ever 2,000 point scorer. She would be the just 12th Crossroads League player to ever reach that mark.
“What a great day for Maddie,” said Grace head coach Dan Davis. “She has been with me nearly my entire time at Grace and she means so much to me, so much to this program. She has had success as a player throughout her career but she has never put that above the team and that is evident in the success we have had as a program with her and that is what has sealed her legacy as one of the best ever.”
The Lancers nearly completed a dramatic 14-point comeback in the final quarter, but ultimately fell 80-79.
Grace held an early 9-7 lead but the Eagles came on strong and closed the quarter with a 17-11 advantage.
In the second quarter the Lancers saw the deficit grow to as many as 14 points. Bekah Marshall and Molly Long each had 3-point plays on consecutive possessions to pull Grace back within single digits. At the half Midway held a 37-31 lead.
The second half started with a trifecta from Marshall but the Eagles continued to maintain their cushion. A jump shot from Ryman and a pair of free throws cut the deficit down the three points with 1:49 left in the third stanza, but Midway closed the quarter on a 6-0 run to push the lead back to nine points.
Things looked dire early in the fourth quarter as the Eagles grew their lead to 14 points, but the plucky Lancer refused to roll over.
Ryman rattled off seven straight points, including her program record breaking point, and at the midpoint of the quarter Grace had pulled within four points.
With 1:27 left Peyton Murphy converted on a pair of shots from the charity stripe to pull Grace within 75-73.
Another trifecta from Ryman saw the Lancers vault into the lead as the clock ticked under 60 seconds.
An and-1 from Midway put the Eagles ahead 78-76 but Grace returned the favor on their next possession as Kaylee Patton converted an and-1 of her own to push the Lancers back ahead by a point.
Midway would reclaim the lead for the final time at the free throw line after a late foul call. The Eagles sank both shots at the line with just 10 second left and the Lancers were unable to answer as they fell 80-79.
“We are doing a lot of good things these last few games but we need to put it together for 40 minutes,” commented Davis. “Just need a little bit more consistency but I believe that we can be a dangerous team as we enter the conference schedule.”
Grace had four players score in double digits in the contest. Patton and Marshall scored 19 and 11 points respectively, while Houk and Long each chipped in 10 points of their own.
The Lancers were out shot 50 percent to 47 percent. Grace was out rebounded 36-31.
The Lancers will return home on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. tip off against Taylor.