MISHAWAKA – Grace College’s women’s basketball team suffered one of its worst shooting performances of the season in a 64-43 loss at No. 15 Bethel Thursday. The Lady Lancers (13-6; 4-3 Crossroads League) made less than 30 percent of their shots and had their three-game winning streak snapped by their Crossroads League rival. Defensively, Grace held the Lady Pilots (16-3; 6-1 CL) 10 points below their season average. The Lady Lancers nabbed 12 steals and also grabbed 19 offensive rebounds. Grace’s offense failed to get on track, however, as the team made just 18 of 63 (28.6 percent) field goal attempts. Despite its offensive issues, Grace’s defense was on display early in the game as it held Bethel to just two points for the first 5:26 of the game. Juaneice Jackson scored Grace’s first six points as the team led 6-2 five minutes after tip-off. The Lady Pilots found their shooting touch soon after as they drilled a trio of three-pointers over the next five minutes to take a five-point lead. Grace fought back and went ahead 16-15 with 6:10 to play in the half after back-to-back baskets from Emily Bidwell. The team’s offense went dry after that point, though, and Grace could only muster three points the rest of the half. Bethel entered the break with a 30-19 lead. Less than two minutes into the second half, the Lady Pilots had a double-digit cushion. Grace did not come closer than 10 points of Bethel’s lead the remainder of the contest. Jackson was Grace’s lone double-digit scorer with 15 points on 7-of-18 shooting from the field. She, along with Jayla Starks, led all players with four steals. Emily Bidwell came off the bench to produce nine points and four rebounds, and Sarah Feasby and JoEllen Fickel added four points and five rebounds apiece. Grace continues league play Saturday when it travel to Fort Wayne to take on Saint Francis. The women will play at 1 p.m. with the men’s game immediately following. Laura Johnson led Bethel with a game-high 24 points, while Alyshia Harvey scored 10. Wawasee grad Ashlee Ort added eight points for the Lady Pilots.
