WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

It was a Wednesday night the #RV Huntington women’s basketball team (15-9, 8-5) would just as soon forget as they suffered a disappointing 77-62 loss to Grace College. The loss snaps a four-game win streak and matches Huntington’s largest margin of defeat this season.

For the Lancers, it was their third straight victory as they improve to 13-12 overall, 7-6 in conference play. Grace has had HU’s number lately as they currently hold a five-game win streak over Culler’s crew.

Defense has been Huntington’s pride and joy all season but on this given night, the stats tell a different story. The Lancers sizzled the nets to the tune of 55.6 percent – the highest percentage any opponent has shot against the Foresters all year.

Grace also forced their hosts into a season-high 26 fouls which translated into 35 free throw attempts – the highest number of free throws any opponent has shot against HU this year. The result was a GC squad that put 77 points on the board to a team that has, on average, been giving up less the 57 points per night.

Unfortunately, Huntington’s offense was also on the struggle bus. The combination was lethal as the Foresters, from opening tip, chased their visitors all night. HU shot 38.1 percent from the field (24-for-63) and connected on only ten of their 17 freebies for 58.8 percent.

The second quarter was Huntington’s low point as they managed just seven points to which the Lancers took full advantage. Down by five after the first ten minutes, HU had trimmed their deficit to two, 25-23, by the midway point of the second but then the wheels came flying off as Culler’s crew wouldn’t score again until after intermission.

The Lancers, on the other hand, closed out the quarter with 13 unanswered points for a comfortable 38-23 halftime lead.

The third quarter was proof of Huntington’s grittiness as they spent the first seven minutes clawing their way back in it to reduce the difference to a pair of points, 46-44, by the 2:42 mark. Sarah Fryman was the difference maker. The 5-9 forward scored six points and handed out four assists during her team’s 21-8 run.

However, the Foresters ran out of juice after that as Grace upped their lead back to five by the quarter’s end and proceeded to outscore their hosts by ten in the final ten minutes to make for the lopsided final score.

Fryman finished with 16 points and six assists to pace Huntington. Erin Mohr had a banner night by tossing in a career-best 14 points on 7-for-10 shooting. She also collected two blocks, an assist and a steal. Maddie Richer netted 11 points. Brooke Saylor grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, four of which were offensive.

Vironnica Drake topped all scorers with 18 points. Kaylie Warble came off the bench to add 15 points and ten rebounds for her second double double of the year while Brooke Sugg and Micaela Box each posted 11 points.

Huntington has a few days to regroup before heading to Indiana Wesleyan on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. tip-off with the #20 Wildcats.