Bethel Women Stymie Lancers
MISHAWAKA – The Grace College women’s basketball team suffered one of its worst shooting performances of the season in a 64-43 loss to No. 15 Bethel on Thursday night.
The Lady Lancers (13-6; 4-3 Crossroads League) made less 30 percent of their shots to snap their three-game winning streak.
Defensively, Grace held the Pilots (16-3; 6-1 CL) to 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 18 field goals in 63 tries (28.6 percent).
Despite their offensive issues, Grace’s defense was on display early in the game as they held Bethel to just two points for the first 5:26 of the game. Juaneice Jackson scored all six of Grace’s first points as the team led 6-2 five minutes after tip-off.
The Pilots found their shooting touch soon after as they drilled a trio of 3-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 for the rest of the half. Bethel entered the break with a 30-19 lead.
Less than two minutes into the second half, the Pilots had earned a double-digit cushion. Grace did not come closer than 10 points of Bethel’s lead for the remainder of the contest.
Jackson was Grace’s lone double-digit scorer with 15 points on 7-of-18 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.
Bethel improved to 7-0 at home this season with the win. Former Wawasee High School standout Ashlee Ort, a senior for the Pilots, had eight points for the winners.
Grace continues league play on Saturday when they travel to Fort Wayne to take on Saint Francis. The women will play at 1 p.m. with the men’s Grace/Saint Francis game immediately following. Bethel plays at No. 1 and undefeated Indiana Wesleyan on Saturday.