Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - For first-year women's basketball coach Lori Wynn, there was no fairy-tale ending to Tuesday night's game against Cornerstone University. In her home debut, the Grace College Lady Lancers fell to the Golden Eagles 59-42 to drop to 0-2 on the season.
The Lancers struggled in one key category, field goal percentage. It's been the same problem that has plagued the Grace College women's basketball team for a number of years. Tuesday, the Lancers shot just 27 percent from the floor. But according to coach Wynn, it's not a case of poor shot selection.
"I thought we had some great looks inside," Wynn said. "We just need more practice. That's something that will come with time."
The Lancers fell behind 21-7 early and could never really battle out of that hole. The score was 32-18 at the break before Grace made a run to start the second half.
Tracey Mantegna hit three three-pointers in the first five minutes of the second half as Grace cut the lead to six points at 37-31. However, Cornerstone knocked down a pair of three-pointers to balloon the lead back to double-figures.
Grace never got closer than eight points the rest of the way as Cornerstone ended the game on a 10-2 run.
"We had a slump early in the first half," Wynn said. "In the second half, we did some nice things, but we still played young."
Coach Wynn did see improvement since the Lancers' first game, an 84-49 loss to NAIA No. 12 Judson College. However, she also sees some areas that Grace needs to address quickly.
"We need to come out strong in the first half," Wynn said. "We need to continually work to run an offense and we need to defend well from the beginning."
Danielle Mowery did lead the Lancers with 18 points. She also had eight rebounds. Mantegna added a double-double with 15 points and 12 boards. No other Lancer had more than three points.
Grace (0-2) will play at Tri-State Thursday beginning at 6 p.m.
CORNERSTONE 59, GRACE 42
Cornerstone 32 27 - 59
Grace 18 24 - 42
Cornerstone - Julie Bozek (G) 7-11 2-3 19, Kami Main (G) 3-8 0-1 9, Lindsay Maat (F) 3-8 0-2 6, Laura Yonkers (F) 1-8 0-1 2, Julie Vogelzang (C) 4-11 5-7 13, Heather Brown 1-2 0-1 2, Shannon Martin 3-11 0-0 7, Emily Fewless 0-0 1-2 1, Total 22-59 8-17 59.
Grace -ÊKari Helmuth (G) 0-10 2-2 2, Amy Doron (G) 0-5 2-4 2, Danielle Mowery (F) 9-19 0-2 18, Eleanor Marquis (F) 1-5 0-0 2, Tracey Mantegna (F) 6-18 0-1 15, Amilia Devros 1-2 0-0 3, Jordan Rees 0-4 0-0 0, Total 17-63 4-9 42
Three-pointers - Cornerstone 7-21 (Main 3-5, Bozek 3-7, Martin 1-7, Yonkers 0-2), Grace 4-20 (Mantegna 3-7, Devros 1-2, Doron 0-2, Helmuth 0-9). Rebounds - Cornerstone 46 (Vogelzang 14), Grace 48 (Mantegna 12). Fouls - Grace 17, Cornerstone 9. Fouled out - none. Turnovers - Grace 29, Cornerstone 24.
