BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – Grace College’s shooting issues proved fatal again on Saturday in a 56-42 loss to Cumberland in the Union Tournament. The Lady Lancers scored just eight points in both the first and fourth quarters to waste a strong defensive performance. Grace was held to 32 percent shooting for the game, including 2 of 14 (14 percent) from the three-point line. Grace’s aim was off from the get-go. The Lady Lancers (5-8) missed 13 of their first 16 field goals to fall into an early hole. The Bulldogs (10-3) capitalized, going on top 21-8 at the end of the first quarter. Cumberland continued to stifle Grace’s offense and led 29-8 three minutes into the second quarter. A basket from Haley Richardson snapped the Lady Lancers’ drought, and Grace made a furious rally to close the half. Grace closed the first half on a 14-4 charge, but Cumberland still led 33-22 at intermission. Unlike Friday – when Grace’s offense kicked into gear in the second half against Union – the Lady Lancers’ production decreased after halftime on Saturday. Grace struggled to shoot just 27 percent from the floor in the second half, missing all six three-pointers as well. Richardson started the third quarter on a tear, ripping off eight points over the first six minutes. Grace nearly erased Cumberland’s cushion and trailed 37-34. Unfortunately, Grace went scoreless for the final 4:00 of the quarter, and the Bulldogs built up a double-digit lead that they never surrendered. Richardson led Grace in scoring with 14 points after making 5 of 10 field goals. Kelsie Peterson was the other Lady Lancer in double figures, scoring 10 points to go along with two assists and two steals. Gabby Miller tallied eight points and two assists, but no other player for Grace scored more than four points. The Lady Lancers take two weeks off before traveling to Chicago on Dec. 28-29. Grace will play No. 1 St. Xavier and Robert Morris to wrap up the non-league portion of its schedule.
