WINONA LAKE, Ind. - A stingy defensive effort lifted Grace's women's basketball team past Goshen on Saturday.
The Lancers (9-6, 2-3 Crossroads League) won 65-53, riding the back of a nearly perfect second-quarter performance.
The teams played an even first quarter. Emma Sperry helped Grace off to a fast start by scoring Grace's first five points.
The Lancers' offense hit a rut, however, needing three more minutes to score again.
The Maple Leafs ended the quarter with a last-second basket, and Goshen led 14-13 after 10 minutes. Sperry had nine of Grace's 13 points.
Grace took a stranglehold on the game in the second quarter. The Lancers' defense held Goshen to just two points in the frame, allowing the Lancers to charge in front.
Sophia Morrison was a spark off the bench, ripping off 10 second-quarter points.
Goshen committed eight turnovers in the face of Grace's tenacious defense in the quarter, resulting in 11 points for the Lancers.
The Lancers led 34-16 at halftime, outscoring Goshen 21-2 in the second quarter.
Grace shot 42 percent from the floor while holding Goshen to 25 percent shooting. The Lancers also had an 11-0 advantage in points in the paint, and Goshen did not make a 3-pointer.
Grace ran into turnover problems of its own in the third quarter. The Lancers lost the ball five times, allowing the Maple Leafs to play even with Grace.
The Lancers shot the ball very well in the quarter, however, making 8 of 11 from the floor (73 percent.
To start the fourth quarter, Morrison and Sperry scored to push Grace's lead to 20.
Goshen answered with six straight points, but Bekah Marshall countered with a 3-pointer and a layup on consecutive possessions.
The Lancers did not score for the final 4:04 of regulation, but Grace's cushion was large enough to withstand any potential comeback.
Grace finished the game with a season-best 50 percent shooting from the field.
Morganne Houk led all players with 17 points to go along with six rebounds, and Morrison scored 15 points with a trio of 3s.
Sperry tallied 11 points on 3 of 4 shooting, and Peyton Murphy racked up 5 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals.
Maddy Poynter produced eight points and two steals, Marshall had seven points with two steals, and Kensie Ryman had five assists and two steals.
"It was good to see the ladies bounce back from a tough loss in Indy. We came out ready to play. I thought we played some really good basketball during the second quarter in particular," said Grace head coach Dan Davis. "We got a little sloppy with the lead, but it was a good team effort overall today. We got contributions from everybody, which you want to see as you get into the meat of conference play."
Next week, the Lancers will play at Huntington on Wednesday before returning home on Saturday versus Bethel.
