MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – A 30-point outburst from senior Allison Kauffman was not enough as Grace College’s women’s basketball team lost 75-63 to St. Thomas on Tuesday. Kauffman nearly matched her career-high of 31 points from Monday’s victory over Johnson & Wales, but the Lady Lancers (7-7) had no answer to St. Thomas’s offense. The Bobcats (5-2) made 60 percent of their attempts from the floor and outscored Grace 40-29 in the second half. Grace led for much of the opening half, using a 9-0 run in the early minutes to go ahead 14-6. The Lady Lancers still led 30-26 with six minutes to play before the Bobcats returned the favor with a 9-0 spurt, going on top 35-30. Kauffman scored four points in the final minute to bring Grace to within 35-34 at the break and netted nine of Grace’s final 12 points of the half. She had 18 points by halftime. The second half saw a pair of key runs made by the Bobcats that ultimately turned the game into a rout. St. Thomas used a quick 7-0 spurt to open up a double-digit lead over Grace less than seven minutes into the second half. Grace battled back 10 minutes later. A three-pointer from Darian Patton was followed by a layup from Sarah Feasby, which trimmed the Bobcats’ cushion to 58-53 with 6:44 remaining. Grace’s momentum, however, was slowed. St. Thomas scored 11 unanswered points over the next 4:01, aided by four turnovers from Grace. The Bobcats maintained a comfortable lead until the final buzzer. Grace struggled with ball control with 20 turnovers. The Lady Lancers outrebounded the Bobcats by eight thanks to 18 offensive rebounds, but Grace shot just 27 percent from the floor in the second half. Kauffman finished with 30 points on 10-of-19 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals. She had eight offensive rebounds. No one else for Grace reached double figures. Patton had eight points, Kelsie Peterson scored seven, and Gabby Bryant added six. The Lady Lancers take two weeks off before traveling to NAIA 11th-ranked Purdue Calumet on Dec. 31 for 2 p.m. tipoff.
