Grace College’s Brooke Suggs reacts after the Lancers forced a late turnover to preserve a 104-102 double overtime win against Pikeville Saturday afternoon. (Photos by Mike Deak)

WINONA LAKE – Brooke Sugg’s late-game heroics lifted Grace’s women’s basketball team to a 104-102 double overtime victory over No. 17 Pikeville on Saturday.

The win over the NAIA Div. I-ranked Bears (6-2) ended the women’s portion of the Wyndham Garden Terry Polston Hoops for Hope.

The game was about as evenly played as possible with team stats nearly identical in every category. Both teams shot 45 percent from the floor, and both sides hit 11 3-pointers. Both had a guard enjoy a career-best performance.

Vironnica Drake slices to the cup for a deuce.

But the Lady Lancers (5-4) made more plays in key moments, holding off a seemingly unending array of comebacks from Pikeville.

The Bears held an eight-point edge after the first quarter thanks to a last-second 3-pointer. Lauren Godfrey fueled a Grace comeback in the second quarter with seven points in a two-minute span.

The teams went into halftime tied 39-39 after two late free throws by VIronnica Drake.

Pikeville grabbed a small lead midway into the fourth quarter, clinging to an 80-76 advantage with 1:27 remaining. Suggs buried a triple on the next play to give Grace a chance, and Darian Patton hit 1-of-2 from the foul line on Grace’s final possession to tie the game.

In the first overtime, Kelsie Peterson sparked Grace with a 3-pointer and Sugg followed with a bucket to give Grace an 85-80 advantage. Grace still led 89-83 with 1:38 to play, but the Bears remarkably forced another overtime with two 3-pointers, the last of which was hit with two seconds on the clock.

Darian Patton finds room in the lane for a layup attempt.

Grace jumped out to another lead in the second overtime only to watch Pikeville nearly repeat its dramatic comeback. Sugg was dominant in the overtime period, outscoring the Bears 10-4 by herself over the first four minutes. Her last 3-pointer with 1:02 left gave Grace a six-point edge.

But the Bears found a magical touch from deep again, hitting a trio of 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds to make things interesting. Grace was saved at the free throw line, icing the win with five foul shots including three from Drake.

Sugg’s career night also happened to be a program-record night. Sugg’s 32 points came on 11-of-22 shooting from the floor and 6-of-13 from beyond the arc. Her six treys tied a program record.

Drake scored 13 of her 19 points from the foul line, adding 6 boards, 4 assists and 2 steals. Peterson scored 16 points with three assists, and Patton added 17 points and three steals.

Godfrey produced nine points off the bench, and Chloe Pridgen tallied six more. Haley Richardson finished with 5 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists.

The Lady Lancers have a quick turnaround next week before their next ranked opponent. Grace plays at No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan on Tuesday at 6 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the men’s team.

Grace’s Kelsie Peterson floats a shot attempt against Pikeville Saturday afternoon.