GRACE WOMEN 92, JUDSON 45

Grace’s women’s basketball team continued its hot start to the season with a 92-45 win over Judson on Saturday.

The Lady Lancers (7-1) have now won seven games by at least 20 points. Grace is averaging 91.0 points per game.

Grace is also tied for the best start in program history, tying the 7-1 start by the 2012-13 squad.

Grace struggled with its shot to start the game. The Lady Lancers made just four shots out of 20 attempts in the opening quarter (20 percent).

The Eagles, on the other hand, shot 55 percent in the period.

But Grace’s defense kept the score close. The Lady Lancers forced Judson into eight turnovers, and Kyannah Stull buried a trio of 3-pointers as Grace trailed 17-15 at the end of the quarter.

The game turned dramatically in the second quarter. The Lady Lancers produced one of their most complete quarters of the season, outscoring Judson 35-6 to surge ahead.

Grace displayed an elite defensive effort; the Eagles coughed up the ball 13 times in the second quarter. Grace’s defensive pressure was highlighted by back-to-back 10-second halfcourt violations by Judson.

Vironnica Drake was a driving force for Grace’s offense in the second quarter, scoring 13 points including 8-of-8 from the foul line.

Grace hit seven 3-pointers during its second-quarter outburst. Mackenzie Pulley nailed two of those triples, including one to beat the halftime buzzer.

Grace went into halftime with a commanding 50-23 lead. Drake and Stull each had 15 points, and Pulley was 3-of-3 from beyond the arc for nine points.

The third quarter saw another strong defensive display, limiting the Eagles to seven points in the stanza.

Grace pulled its starters for good with 2:44 left in the third quarter, and the Lady Lancers went into the fourth quarter with a 40-point cushion.

The Lady Lancers coasted in the fourth for the final 47-point margin of victory.

Drake finished with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, and Stull had 15 points (all from 3-pointers).

Hostetler shot 5-of-7 from the floor for her 13 points, adding four assists and two steals, and Pulley racked up 12 points with four 3-pointers to go along with 5 boards, 4 steals and 2 assists.

Micaela Box scored 11 points with three steals, Lexi Minix stuffed the stat sheet with 6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals, and Maddie Ryman scored seven points with two assists.

Brooke Treadway pulled in seven rebounds, and Kaylie Warble added six boards.

“I thought we played a really good game from start to finish. Even though our shots weren’t dropping in the first quarter, we were very dominant in the second quarter,” said Grace head coach Dan Davis. “Our bench continues to get better, which we will need as we come into conference play.”

The Lady Lancers will open Crossroads League competition on Tuesday with a home doubleheader against Goshen. The women’s game will tip off at 6 p.m. with the men’s game to follow.

ELKHART CHRISTIAN GIRLS 36, LAKELAND CHRISTIAN 29

A little separation in the third quarter gave Elkhart Christian enough room to hold on for a win over LCA Saturday evening.

ECA led just 21-18 at the half, but took a seven-point lead, 28-21, into the fourth quarter and held on. Abbey McKibbin led the Eagles with 20 points. Tori Calizo and Natalie Norris had eight points each for the Cougars. LCA recorded 14 steals, five coming from Jessi Calizo, but the team committed 29 turnovers in the loss.

NORWELL GIRLS 59, NORTHWOOD 39

A red-hot start from Norwell on its home court did in NorthWood in a Saturday matinee.

Norwell had Breann Barger score nine points in the first quarter en route to 17 points and Kaylee Fuelling scored eight of her 18 points in the first as Norwell took a 19-10 lead.

Maddy Payne scored seven of her 13 points in the first quarter, but the Panthers found themselves down 34-15 at the half.

The Knights also stood tall in the JV contest, winning 56-20.

CROWN POINT GIRLS 55, WARSAW 43

The second-ranked Crown Point team held off Warsaw in the morning session of the NLC/Duneland Shootout at Merrillville.

A 14-6 Crown Point start was maintained throughout the rest of the contest as Warsaw couldn’t get within two possessions into the fourth quarter. Warsaw was also dealt a major blow, losing guard Kenzie Ryman to a fractured collar bone in the first half. Having to scramble, Warsaw committed 26 turnovers, translating into 18 Crown Point points.

Jessica Carrothers led the Point with 24 points. Brielle Harrison had 10 points and four rebounds, and Abby Sanner had nine points and three boards.

In the JV game, Crown Point won 34-30. Lauren Grose led Warsaw with 11 points.

MERRILLVILLE GIRLS 48, WARSAW 44

Merrillville rallied in the fourth quarter to catch and beat Warsaw at the NLC/Duneland Shootout at Merrillville.

Warsaw led 36-31 entering the fourth quarter but couldn’t hold the lead against the hosts. Torri Miller led the Pirates with 17 points and seven rebounds and Cailynn Dilosa finished with 13 points and a pair of assists. The Tigers had Brielle Harrison score a season-high 15 points while Kaylee Patton and Kacilyn Krebs each finished with nine points. Warsaw’s 31 turnovers translated into 28 points for the Pirates.

In the JV game, Warsaw won 41-24. Cora West led Warsaw with 13 points.