Grace’s Vironnica Drake defends against Taylor Saturday afternoon. (Photos provided by the Grace College Sports Information Department)

WINONA LAKE – Grace’s women dropped a tough contest to Taylor Saturday while the men went out in style with a big victory in the regular season finale for both Grace programs.

Taylor Women 76, Grace 61

In the regular season finale, Grace’s women’s basketball team lost a tough 76-61 game to No. 16 Taylor on Saturday.

The Lady Lancers end the regular season with a record of 16-14 and 10-8 in the Crossroads League for fourth place. Grace will host the quarterfinals of the CL Tournament on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Huntington.

Taylor implemented a zone defense in the first quarter, and Grace struggled to break through. Grace committed four turnovers in the first quarter and only had seven points entering the last minute.

Brooke Sugg made a running floater with 31 seconds left, and Micaela Box beat the buzzer with a baseline jumper. The Trojans still led 20-11 at quarter’s end.

Kyannah Stull gave Grace a spark to start the second quarter. The freshman point guard hit back-to-back 3-pointers to bring Grace to within six.

Taylor ended the half by scoring on a last-second lob to earn a 39-30 lead at halftime. The Trojans (21-9, 14-4 CL) shot 50 percent from the floor and outrebounded Grace by four. Vironnica Drake had 10 of Grace’s 30 first-half points, and Stull added six.

The third quarter all but sealed the win for the Trojans. Taylor buried five triples in the quarter and slowly pulled ahead.

The Trojans earned a 22-point lead at 62-40 with 2:19 remaining in the third, but Grace continued to fight. Box and Lauren Godfrey scored on back-to-back plays in the final minute to give Grace a lift.

The Lady Lancers continued to press to start the fourth quarter. A pair of triples by Box and Stull sliced Taylor’s cushion down to 12 with 7:31 to play.

But Grace’s momentum ran out soon after. The Trojans kept Grace from breaking into their lead any further and eased away for the final 15-point margin of victory.

Drake led Grace in scoring with 15 points and four rebounds, and Sugg had 11 points and two assists. Stull buried a trio of 3-pointers for nine points, and Box tallied 7 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds.

Kelsie Peterson, on her Senior Day, tallied seven points with three steals, and Pam Miller chipped in 4 points, 5 boards and 2 assists.

Taylor shot 49 percent for the game and 48 percent from beyond the arc. Grace shot 41 percent overall and 28 percent from the 3-point line.

Grace Men 103, Taylor 92

Grace’s men’s basketball team wrapped up the 2018 season on a high note with a 103-92 win over Taylor on Saturday.

The Lancers, who celebrated seniors Erik Bowen and Stephen Halstead after the game, secured the season sweep of the Trojans (16-14, 7-11 Crossroads League).

Bowen ended his career with 21 points and 12 rebounds, the 34th double-double of his career. Halstead scored 11 points with a trio of 3-pointers to cap off his collegiate career.

Jaret Sons poured in a career-high 22 points in a strong performance. He shot 8-of-11 overall from the floor, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, to go along with five rebounds and four assists.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair. Grace led in the early stages, but Taylor soon pulled ahead by nine at 29-20.

The Lancers (12-18, 5-13 CL) ended the half on a spurt to pull even. Sons buried three triples in a span of 1:35 and went into halftime behind 45-43.

Shortly into the second half, Grace took the lead. Logan Godfrey scored four points, and Halstead hit a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions to lift the Lancers.

Minutes later, Grace started to build up a lead. The Lancers ripped off 12 unanswered points to climb ahead 75-62. Matt Jennings scored six unanswered points to start the run, and Charlie Warner and Sons ended the spurt with back-to-back 3-pointers.

Taylor never fully recovered from Grace’s 12-0 surge. The Trojans could not draw closer than seven for the final 10 minutes; timely baskets by the Lancers kept Taylor at a distance.

Haden Deaton was especially impactful over the final minutes for Grace to secure the win. Deaton scored 11 of his 14 points during the last 5:24 of the contest, helping the Lancers hold on for an 11-point victory.

Overall, Grace had six players score in double figures. The Lancers had a season-high 25 assists and shot 54 percent from the floor. Grace shot 53 percent from beyond the arc and held a 35-26 advantage in rebounds.

Godfrey tallied 15 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, Jennings amassed 13 points and four boards, and Braxton Linville added 2 points, 9 assists and 4 rebounds.

Matt Jennings lines up a three-point attempt against Taylor Saturday afternoon.