Dan Davis is set to guide Grace into the 2018-19 women’s basketball season. (File photo)

WINONA LAKE – Grace’s women’s basketball team will have a fresh look in 2018-19.

The Lady Lancers have a new coach at the helm of the program this winter. Dan Davis will direct Grace, hoping to guide an experienced squad to a deep postseason run.

Davis comes to Grace from Auburn-Montgomery where he led the Warhawks to a pair of national tournament appearances. He brings a passionate, positive approach to coaching and has made an immediate impact on campus.

Davis has quickly worked to install his unique culture to the program, and he noted how well the Lady Lancers have adopted it.

“I’ve really enjoyed coaching the ladies over the past month in practice. They have accepted every challenge we’ve given them and even the intensity that we want to practice and play at,” he said. “Best is our standard. It’s an every day thing in how we lift weights, how we condition, how we treat each other, how we conduct ourselves on campus. Nothing less than our best will ever be accepted. By establishing that culture, it will elevate our program to where we want to go.”

Davis’s key word for preseason was “compete.” Grace will likely be a guard-driven team, so Davis foresees a need for the Lady Lancers to work hard to overcome a lack of size.

“We are gong to have to be a group that’s blue collar; we have to compete every night,” Davis said. “When Grace walks into a gym, I want them to know that we are playing hard for the full 40 minutes.”

Joining Davis on the sideline is first-year assistant coach Carol McGregor. She was an Indiana All-Star from NorthWood High School and a four-year letter winner at Purdue. McGregor went on to be an assistant coach at Purdue Fort Wayne.

“It’s been fun to work alongside Coach Mac [McGregor]. We balance each other well. She brings energy, enthusiasm and integrity,” Davis said. “She’s been a high-level player, and she will greatly help us recruit and develop players.”

Brooke Sugg, Pam Miller and Lauren Godfrey provide Grace a trio of experienced seniors. Sugg enjoyed a breakout season last year, scoring nearly 450 points at 14.0 points per game. She also set the school record by burying 75 triples.

Vironnica Drake averaged double-digit scoring in each of her first two collegiate seasons and will be looked on to contribute in rebounding, defending, creating and scoring.

Kyannah Stull had a strong freshman campaign last year by totaling nearly 200 points, and she will likely step into a starting role in 2018-19. Davis focused on building up Stull’s confidence in the preseason, seeing her as a “big-time shooter who can create and score consistently.”

Kaylie Warble, Brooke Treadway, Rachel Montgomery and Lexi Minix give Grace length in the post alongside Miller. Warble had the edge for a starting center spot through preseason and shot a team-high 49 percent from the field last year.

The guard rotation will be completed by sophomore Melissa Goss and the freshman trio of Kamryn Hostetler, Brielle Wilson and Olivia Pearson. Hostetler seems poised to join Grace’s starting lineup after a strong preseason. “Kam [Hostetler] is a hard-nosed, tough competitor who will only improve as the year goes on,” Davis said.

Offensively, Grace will rely on its shooters. Davis wants the Lady Lancers to have an aggressive, attacking offense, and he hopes Grace will be a fast-paced team.

Defensively, Davis stressed fundamentals and the importance of not giving up easy shots.

The Lady Lancers will need to handle the rigors of the Crossroads League. Five teams from the league were represented in the NAIA Top 25 Preseason Poll, including four squads in the top 20.

“It’s been fun coming to work every day and coaching these young ladies. There have been days when I’ve pushed them hard, but they keep buying in,” Davis said. “We have to keep challenging ourselves and growing. When they have that mindset, it’s fun to coach.”

The Lady Lancers will enjoy their home opener this weekend. Grace hosts Governors State at 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.