SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Vironnica Drake of Grace College hit a jumper with two seconds remaining in regulation to help give the visiting Lancers a 61-58 victory over the Spring Arbor University women's basketball team on Saturday.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Spring Arbor 58, Grace 61
LOCATION: SAU Fieldhouse | Spring Arbor, Mich.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 10-10 (1-7 CL), Grace 10-10 (5-3 CL)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Spring Arbor recorded the last 12 points of the first quarter to grab a 20-10 lead heading into the second period. Aimee Konkel led the charge scoring eight of those points, including two three-pointers.
- Grace chipped away at the deficit throughout the second quarter, outscoring SAU 20-12 in the stanza, but the Cougars would still take a two point lead into halftime, 32-30.
- The Lancers would even the score at 34-34 at the 7:53 mark of the third quarter, but the Cougars would answer. A layup from Kylie Townsley and a free throw from Autumn Goggin put Spring Arbor back in front. Konkel would follow with two more triples to boost the advantage back to double digits, 45-34.
- Spring Arbor maintained the lead into the fourth quarter and led by five, 56-51, at the 4:18 mark. However, Grace notched seven unanswered points to take the lead with 1:30 left on the clock. On the ensuing possession, SAU tied the game after Rachel Driesenga came up with a huge offensive rebound and Goggin finished at the basket.
- Drake would clinch the game for the Lancers in the closing seconds with an old-fashioned three-point play.
FOR THE COUGARS
- Goggin and Konkel paced Spring Arbor with 19 and 17 points, respectively. Konkel – the program's all-time leader in three-pointers – matched her season-high with five triples on the afternoon.
- Townsley added eight points, five steals and four rebounds while Ryann Laier finished with six points and six boards. Driesenga hauled in nine rebounds to go along with four points.
- Spring Arbor shot 38 percent (21-for-56) from the field.
- The Cougars forced the Lancers into 21 turnovers.
FOR THE LANCERS
- Drake scored 14 points to lead Grace while Haley Richardson and Chloe Pridgen followed with 13 and 11 points.
- The Lancers connected on 38 percent (18-for-47) of their field goal attempts, and outscored the Cougars 24-16 in the paint.
UP NEXT
Spring Arbor will play host to the University of Saint Francis on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m.
Women's Basketball Contact: Chris Bauman | 517-750-6504 | christopher.bauman@arbor.edu
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