Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - The Grace College women's basketball team will get the chance to see just how good it is this weekend as the Lady Lancers host the Grace Invitational Friday and Saturday.
The tournament looks like it could be one of the best NAIA women's tournaments around.
Grace won its first three games of the season by an average of 21.3 points before losing a pair of games at the Ohio Dominican Tournament this weekend.
Junior center Amber Riffell has been the workhorse of the team, averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds per game this year. Her best game of the year came in a 31-point win over Rochester when she posted 18 points, 20 rebounds and five assists.
Sophomore Theresa Clark is second on the team at 12 points per game and is the top three-point threat on the squad, having made eight of the team's 18 three-pointers this year. She is followed by junior Laura Kister at 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds.
In the opening round, Grace will play an Indiana Tech squad that is always tough. Although the Warriors are just 2-3 on the year, those three losses came against teams that are a combined 12-3 on the season.
Indiana Tech is shooting just 40 percent from the field on the year, but is led by junior guard DeNisha Gray, who is averaging 15 points per game.
The other game of the opening round will feature NAIA Division II No. 2 Cedarville and undefeated St. Ambrose.
Cedarville is off to a 5-0 start, having won by an average of over 35 points per game. Sophomore Brittany Smart and Senior Kari Flunker are averaging 18.8 and 17.8 points, respectively, for the Yellow Jackets.
St. Ambrose has jumped out to a 3-0 start on the year and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament last year with a 26-10 record. Senior Michelle Kurth is leading the team at 16.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game.
GRACE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL INVITATIONAL
Friday, November 19
6 p.m. - NAIA Division II No. 2 Cedarville (5-0) vs. St. Ambrose (3-0)
8 p.m. - Grace (3-2) vs. Indiana Tech (2-3)
Saturday, November 20
1 p.m. - Consolation
3 p.m. - Championship
