Trojans Take Down Grace in Overtime
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – On Saturday afternoon the Taylor University women’s basketball team defeated the Grace College Lancers (10-7, 1-5 CL) in overtime by a score of 90-81. Free throws proved pivotal yet again for Taylor, as the Trojans secured a nine-point victory in their first overtime game of the 2021-2022 season.
Taylor shot 23-26 from the line, posting an 88.5-percent mark for the day and now averaging 20.0 made free-throws per game in its last three games. Meanwhile, the Trojans have averaged 91.0 points per game in that stretch, a delightful boost from their season average of 75.6.
The Trojans also outpaced the Lancers from deep, more than doubling their opponent in made three-point baskets while holding a 38.2 percent as a team.
Lauren James had the best scoring night of her senior season, leading all scorers with 24 points while capitalizing on all eight of her trips to the free-throw line. James continues to lead the Trojans in points-per-game, now averaging 14.5 on the season.
Merideth Deckard, Taylor Westgate, and Kayla Kirtley also contributed significantly to the Trojan offensive attack, each scoring 18, 17, and 15 points respectively. Deckard knocked down four three’s, while Westgate gathered her ninth double-double of the season by snagging 11 boards. Meanwhile, Kirtley matched James for the team-lead with eight made free-throws.
The first quarter was somewhat slow-going for the Trojans, as Grace finished the frame with a 23-19 lead. James led the way on offense for Taylor with six points, although as a team Taylor shot just 3-12 from three as the Trojans struggled to find their groove.
The groove began to develop in the second quarter, however, as Taylor found itself up 40-37 at half. Points were scattered across the board for the Trojans, as the team went 12-12 from the free-throw line. Kirtley and freshman, Jillian Osswald, were most active in shaping the groove, though, as they contributed eight of the 12 made free-throws.
Grace trimmed the Trojan lead to one-point by the end of the third, as both teams struggled to fill the hoop. The teams combined for just 25 points on nine made field-goals, before an explosive fourth quarter unfolded.
Each team doubled their third-quarter point total in the fourth, as regulation ended in a 76-76 tie. James pocketed 14 of her 24 points in the fourth frame, but the Grace offensive attack proved relentless in its effort to force overtime. The Lancers shot nearly 70.0 percent from the field throughout their 26-point fourth quarter, a mark that could not sustain itself in overtime though.
The final five minutes of the game were all Taylor, as the Trojans outscored Grace 14-5. Taylor’s senior trio contributed for 12 of the team’s 14 points, while the Trojan defense limited the Lancers to just 2-11 shooting from the field.
Taylor has now won eight of the last nine matchups with Grace, including the most recent three-in-a-row.
Up next for the Trojans (9-9, 3-3 CL) is Spring Arbor (3-11, 1-3 CL) on the road on Wednesday, January 12th, at 7:00 pm.
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