The photo graphic shows the latest signings for the Grace College women’s basketball program. Seated with Melissa Goss are parents Michele and Andy Goss. In the back row are Grace College assistant coach Taylor Goshert, LCA girls basketball head coach Allison Kauffman and Grace College women’s basketball head coach Scott Blum. Seated with Lexi Minix are parents Terry and Cheryl Minix. In the back is Grace College women’s basketball head coach Scott Blum. (Graphic courtesy of Grace College Sports Information)

WINONA LAKE – Grace’s women’s basketball team added two members to next year’s squad in Lexi Minix and Melissa Goss.

Minix is a transfer from NCAA Div. II Saint Joseph’s, and Goss is a local product from Lakeland Christian Academy.

As a senior, Goss was named Honorable Mention to the Ink Free News All-Area Team, and also won LCA’s Cougar Award in her final two years.

Goss was the lone senior on the LCA squad that finished with the first winning record (12-11) in the IHSAA era for the program. A jack-of-all-trades for coach and former Grace standout Allison Kauffman’s program, Goss averaged per-game totals of 5.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 4.7 steals, playing in all 23 games.

“I chose Grace College because I really felt God’s guidance during my decision process pointing me to Grace,” Goss said. “I want to continue improving on my skills through hard work under Coach Blum’s guidance.”

Goss also played soccer and ran track at LCA. She was the team’s Defensive Player of the Year for soccer in 2015. In track, she competed in sectionals twice and was a two-time Team MVP.

“Melissa Goss is one of those players that every coach dreams of having on their team. She is the true definition of a servant leader,” Kauffman said. “Melissa helped lead LCA to one of our best seasons in many years. She is key to leading the floor as a point guard, and she was the leader in assists and steals for the last two years. Coach Blum is very blessed to pick her up not only for what she can bring on the court, but off of it.”

Goss, who is the daughter of Andy and Michele Goss, is her class’s president of the National Honor Society and a leader and founder of Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the school. The Warsaw native has won numerous academic awards at LCA. She hopes to major in pre-physical therapy or exercise science during her time at Grace.

Minix is a standout guard from Oregon-Davis High School. She racked up 1,169 points during her high school career and was an All-State honoree.

She helped her Oregon-Davis team win 90 games over her four years, including the 2014 IHSAA Class 1A state championship. The ICGSA elected Minix to the First Team All-State.

As a senior, she was named IBCA Senior All-State after helping her team win sectional and regional titles. She was invited to play in the McDonald’s Michiana All-Star Game on her way to signing with Saint Joseph’s. Minix, along with fellow Grace transfer Michaela Box, were invited to the Hoosier Basketball Magazine’s Top 60 Workout.

“I chose Grace College to take advantage of the small community and faith-based atmosphere. I look forward to making lifelong friendships with the girls on the team,” Minix said. “I’m excited to become part of a team and use my leadership skills to compete for a conference and national championship.”

Minix, who was the salutatorian of her high school class, was also on Saint Joseph’s Dean’s List. The Grovertown, Ind., native, who is the daughter of Terry and Cheryl Minix, plans to study business at Grace.

Her high school coach, who is also her father, added: “Lexi is a born leader and a kid who has a knack for making everyone around her better. She is a natural competitor, and I feel confident that she will bring that same type of winning attitude with her to the Lady Lancer program.”