WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

For the Huntington women’s basketball team’s seniors, Saturday afternoon was their last game at Platt Arena and the outcome didn’t disappoint. After jumping out to a 16-0 lead to start the game, the Foresters held on for a 62-51 win over the Grace College Lancers (12-15, 2-14).

The W wraps up the regular season, completes the season sweep over the Lancers and ups HU’s record to 13-8 overall which includes a 9-7 CL record. Culler and crew finish the regular season fifth in the league standings.

It was senior Sam Vaughn’s three-pointer that barely beat the shot clock just inside a minute remaining that sealed the deal for her and her team. Her big bucket buffered Huntington’s lead to nine points at 60-51 to put the game out of reach. She would go on to swish a baseline jumper on the next possession just for insurance in a game that the Foresters never trailed but never felt completely comfortable until the final 60 seconds.

To say HU’s defense was stifling to start the game would be an understatement. It took the Lancers nearly eight minutes to finally put their first points on the board. GC’s struggle continued throughout the rest of the quarter with Huntington enjoying a 20-7 advantage at the first break.

An old-fashioned three-point play by Logan Rowles opened the second quarter followed by three consecutive buckets by Alexandria Bope made for an HU lead of 29-10 by the 6:29 mark. It served as the largest gap of the afternoon but didn’t settle well with the guests as evidenced by the Lancers making up nine points by halftime for a 35-25 difference heading into intermission.

Grace picked up where they left off to start the third quarter by rattling off six straight points to shave the lead to four at 35-31 ninety seconds into the third quarter. Emily Seboe fired back with her second three of the day and a 15-footer to ignite a 7-0-counter-attack that pushed HU’s lead back to double digits at 42-31.

While HU never let the Lancers within five points after that, they only sat on a double-digit lead for a total of three possessions the rest of the contest which included the final 11-point disparity.

Vaughn and Seboe shared game-high scoring honors with 18 points apiece. Vaughn also enjoyed game-best rebounding honors with ten for the 11th double double of her career. The HU playmaker once again filled the stat sheet by also logging three assists and three steals. Seboe did the same by doling out a career-best and game-leading five dimes to go along with five rebounds and two steals.

Kyannah Stuff paced the Lancers with 17 points while Maddie Ryman finished with 15 and Kaylie Warble added seven.

The Foresters travel to 4th-seeded Mount Vernon on Tuesday in first round action of the Crossroads League Tournament.