GARY, Ind. - IU-Northwest survived a scare from Grace's women's basketball team, pulling out a 70-65 win over the Lady Lancers on Saturday.
Grace led by seven points with six minutes remaining in the contest, but the RedHawks (2-0), who are receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Poll, rallied to win.
IU-Northwest surged ahead with a 16-2 run over a crucial five-minute span, including nine answered points. Grace's 59-52 lead with 5:30 on the clock turned into a seven-point deficit with 1:48 remaining.
Just as the RedHawks ended the game with a flourish, the home team also started strong. IU-Northwest concluded the first quarter on a 16-4 run, winning the period 20-13. Grace still faced a seven-point deficit at halftime as the teams headed to the locker rooms.
The Lady Lancers (1-2) found a spark with its long-range shooting in the third quarter. Grace buried four 3-pointers in the period—two from freshman Brooke Sugg—to help the Lady Lancers close the gap. A pair of free throws from Haley Richardson with 28 seconds remaining pulled the Lady Lancers within two, and after a turnover, Lauren Godfrey buried a triple with seconds on the clock as Grace ended the third quarter ahead 50-49.
Darian Patton scored five quick points to start the fourth quarter thanks to an and-1, helping the Lady Lancers to a six-point advantage. Minutes later, another basket from Richardson put Grace on top by seven, but Grace's offense ran dry down the stretch.
The Lady Lancers missed four field goals and had three turnovers during their fateful four-minute stretch, and the RedHawks recovered to win.
Richardson had a breakout game with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Sugg and Maycee Davis filled in at the point guard position in place of Gabby Miller. Sugg hit three 3-pointers for 13 points, and Davis had five rebounds and two assists.
Patton finished with 13 points and five rebounds, and Sarah Feasby scored six points to go along with a game-high 10 boards. Pam Miller hit 3-of-4 from the floor for six points, and Jenna Kieper notched four points off the bench.
The Lady Lancers outrebounded the RedHawks by 10, but Grace struggled in ball control with 20 turnovers. IU-Northwest also took 19 more free throws than Grace.
Grace returns to the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center on Nov. 7 against Trinity Christian.
