Gabby Bryant plays defense for Grace College Wednesday night. The Lancers defeated Mt. Vernon Nazarene 63-32 (Photo provided by the Grace College Sports Information Department)

WINONA LAKE – A suffocating defensive display lifted the Grace College women’s basketball to a convincing 63-32 win over Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Wednesday night.

The Cougars (4-22, 1-16 Crossroads League) were held to 25 percent shooting in the game. Grace also forced Mt. Vernon into more turnovers (20) than made field goals (14) on Senior Night.

The Lady Lancers (15-14, 8-9 Crossroads League) have one regular season game remaining. Grace will host archrival Bethel on Saturday for a women’s/men’s doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. The Lady Lancers will either be the sixth or seventh seed in the upcoming CL Tournament based on Saturday’s league results.

Grace’s defense was lights-out from the opening tip on Wednesday. Mt. Vernon missed its first 10 shots and turned the ball over seven times over the first 10 minutes. It took the Cougars 9:48 of game time to get on the scoreboard.

Grace, meanwhile, jumped out to an 11-0 lead and eased away to a 29-11 advantage at halftime. Allison Kauffman’s 11 points and Kelsie Peterson’s nine points led Grace’s offense in the first period.

Although the Lady Lancers only made 27 percent of their field goals in the half, their defense nullified the poor shooting. The Cougars were frigid from the floor over the first 20 minutes, making 4-of-25 (16 percent). Additionally they turned the ball over 14 times. Grace was just off the pace for a historic defensive effort after the first half – the record for fewest points allowed in a game in program history was 21.

Grace steadily built up a 30-point lead after eight minutes of play in the second half and cruised to the 31-point win. Grace’s shooting touch was greatly improved after halftime with a 54-percent performance from the floor.

Kauffman was the only player in double-digit scoring with 20 points and eight rebounds in 24 minutes. Peterson’s nine points came with three boards and three steals.

Gabby Bryant notched 8 points, 7 boards, 3 assists and 2 steals, Lindsey Schaefer had seven points and seven boards, and JoEllen Fickel finished with four points and six rebounds.

Overall the Cougars hit just 25 percent of their shots for the game, including 1-of-19 (5 percent) from the 3-point line. Both teams turned the ball over 20 times, and Grace had a commanding 45-25 advantage in rebounding.

Grace’s senior class of Allison Kauffman, Lindsey Schaefer, Heather House and JoEllen Fickel have racked up 71 career victories after Wednesday’s win. Only last year’s graduated senior Juaneice Jackson had a better four-year span in program history with 73 wins.