Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
COLUMBUS, Ind. - Grace College’s women’s basketball team picked up a victory in their season opener on Tuesday night
The Lancers (1-0) traveled to IU Columbus and picked up a 73-60 win over the Crimson Pride (1-1). Emma Sperry stuffed the stat sheet for Grace with 19 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals.
The only time that Grace trailed in the contest was early in the first quarter. The Crimson Pride scored the first seven points to give the Lancers the early deficit.
Grace’s first points of the new campaign belonged to Sperry but it was Kila Foster who sparked the Lancers. Foster drained back-to-back 3-point field goals to help the Lancers ahead 12-9.
Mariah Stoltzfus, Braylin Terrell and Lilly Kreischer helped the Lancers end the 1st quarter on a 5-0 run to carry a 19-11 lead into the break.
The Crimson Pride cut the lead down to four early in the second frame but Maddy Poynter had four points to keep them at bay. A trifecta from Stoltzfus near the middle of the quarter pushed the Lancers’ lead to double digits.
Free throws from Sperry and Poynter that were sandwiched by another 3-point score from Stoltzfus had Grace’s advantage to 34-21 with 2:22 left in the first half.
IU Columbus tried to make a run late in the half but a score from Abbie Ritzema and a last second field goal from Poyer had Grace leading 38-27.
Early in the second half the lead was momentarily cut back down to single digits, but 3-point shots for Sperry and Allyson Rideout had Grace lead up to 15 points. Rideout had two trifectas in the frame.
The Lancers had 14 points in the frame, which was their lowest quarter output of the game, but still outscored the Crimson Pride in the frame.
Sperry scored seven in the frame to help the Lancers to a 52-39 lead entering the final quarter.
A lone score from Rideout broke up what would have been a 14-0 run for IU Columbus to start the 4th quarter. The Crimson Pride roared back within a point of the Lancers with 6:14 left.
Sperry scored an acrobatic score in the paint to push Grace’s lead back to three points and it was doubled soon thereafter with a 3-point shot from Rideout.
IU Columbus scored just seven points over the final 6:14 as the Lancers withstood their comeback attempt.
Scores from Sperry, Rideout and Terrell closed out the game to give Grace a convincing 73-60 victory.
"Always great to get that first win and even better when you start on the road," commented Grace head coach Dan Davis. "Really proud of our effort and compete level tonight. Thought we had some jitters but really liked the poise and composure we showed when they made their run. Some things we can clean up, but we are excited to play in front of our home crowd this weekend.
Rideout was second behind Sperry with 14 points and Poynter also eclipsed double digit points with 11.
Terrell was credited with seven points, 11 rebounds and four blocks while also influencing numerous other attempts.
Grace shot 37 percent in the game and hit nine 3-point shots. The Lancers grabbed 49 rebounds, 16 of which were offensive.
The Lancers will be back in action on Friday at 6 P.M. when they host Miami.
