WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace College's women's basketball team shocked No. 16 St. Xavier 68-66 thanks to a memorable shot from freshman Karissa Lukasiewicz.
After falling behind with 16 seconds left, Grace's Maddie Ryman looked to drive the lane but was met with stifling defense. Ryman kicked the ball out to Lukasiewicz who banked in a deep 3-pointer with 3.4 seconds left to give Grace (8-4) its fourth straight win.
Lukasiewicz finished with seven points, and her game winning triple was the only 3-pointer she attempted.Â
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SXU began the first quarter well. Grace was careless with the ball early, allowing the Cougars (9-4) to enjoy 10 unanswered points to claim a 17-7 lead.
Lukasiewicz scored to end Grace's drought from the field, which lasted nearly five minutes. Kiersten Poor made a late basket, but the Cougars took a 23-15 lead into the second quarter.
After falling behind by 11 early in the second period, Maddie Ryman helped turn the tide back in the Lady Lancers' favor. The junior guard scored on back-to-back possessions to help trim SXU's lead down to five.
Grace's defense began to stymie SXU's offense in the second frame, holding the Cougars to 27 percent from the field in the second.Â
Poor and Karlee Feldman each hit shots to pull Grace within three at 32-29. Late scores from Kenzie McMahon and Ryman closed the half for Grace on a 4-0 run, and Grace trailed by just two at 35-33.
Ryman and Poor each had 10 points in the first half which led all players. The Lady Lancers shot 50 percent from the field for the half but turned the ball over 13 times. SXU was held to 37 percent shooting from the field.
Grace came out firing in the second half and captured the lead within minutes. McMahon scored a layup; on the ensuing possession, Ryman scored off the fast break to push Grace up 39-38.
Poor hit a 3-point shot to push Grace's lead to five. Shortly afterwards, Poor again completed a 3-point play, this time at the free point line after making a tough layup through contact.
The Lady Lancers Lancers held a five-point lead heading into the final quarter.
The fourth quarter was tightly contested as both teams traded the lead back and forth.
With 2:32 left Feldman made a tough basket in the paint to give Grace a 63-58 edge.
SXU scored the next five points to tie the game at 63 with 1:48 left. Feldman would answer to push Grace back in front.
The Cougars hit two free throws to tie the game, and Grace lost the ball on the next play. SXU then sank 1 of 2 from the foul line to grab a 66-65 lead with 17 seconds on the clock.
That set up the eventual game-winning shot from Lukasiewicz.
The Cougars had a chance to tie the game at the end of regulation, but a floating shot in the lane was off the mark as time expired.
Poor scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds. Feldman double-doubled with 11 points and 16 rebounds, and she also had four blocks.
Ryman poured in 18 points and dished out eight assists. McMahon had six points and eight rebounds.
Grace shot 46 percent from the field compared to SXU's 31 percent. The Lady Lancers outrebounded the Cougars 51-37. Those two stats helped Grace overcome a 23-9 disadvantage in the turnover battle.
"This was a big win for our team. We defended and rebounded really well and were able to win in exciting fashion," said Grace head coach Dan Davis. "St. Xavier is a very impressive and experienced squad that has won a lot of games. For our team to fall behind by eight in the first quarter and show toughness to fight back and win shows us what we are capable of."
Grace will play at Holy Cross on Thursday at 6 p.m. before heading to Florida to take part in the Keiser New Year's Classic.
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