Houk Tops 1,000-Point Mark Against Cougars

WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Morganne Houk etched her name in Grace College's women's basketball lore in the Lancers Wednesday night showdown against No. 6 St. Francis.

Houk scored her 1,000th career point as the Lancers (10-11, 2-9 Crossroads League) went toe-to-toe all night with USF before ultimately falling 95-80.

The Lancers came out firing in the opening quarter, knocking down shots at a 50 percent clip. Emma Sperry and Houk each had trifectas as Grace held an early 8-7 advantage.

The Cougars (20-1, 11-0 CL) went on a mini run to edge ahead by five points but consecutive 3-point field goals from Bekah Longenbaugh recaptured the lead for Grace.

The quarter ended with the Cougars going on a 14-4 run to carry a 29-20 lead into the quarter break.

The Lancers saw the deficit grow to 15 early in the second frame before Longenbaugh got loose for another 3-point field goal.

Grace and USF matched each other shot for shot for the remainder of the quarter. The Lancers shot 43 percent in the frame but were outscored by four in the frame and trailed 51-38 at halftime.

Grace shot 44 percent in the half while USF hit at 55 percent. The Lancers were outscored 26-12 in the paint.

Early in the second half USF increased their lead to 17 points. Sperry and Maddy Poynter each had trifectas but each time the Cougars fired back with 3-point field goals of their own. Grace still trailed by 17 with 4:52 left in the quarter.

Braylin Terrell scored a tough bucket in the paint and Poynter tacked on two more points at the charity stripe. Longenbaugh and Poynter continued the run with 3-point field goals cutting the lead down to seven points.

Timely 3-point shots for USF stalled the Lancers run and Grace was down 71-62 entering the final frame.

Terrell had the first four points of the fourth quarter and Becca Gerdt answered a Cougars trey with one of her own pulling the Lancers to within five points.

The upset bid ran out of steam late however, as the Cougars reestablished a double digit lead and held on for the 95-80 victory.

"There are no moral victories but I was really proud of our effort tonight," said Grace head coach Dan Davis. "We have improved a lot from the first time we played them and I think a game like this can really instill a belief in them of what we can accomplish over these final seven games."

Grace finished the game shooting 42 percent from the floor and 34 percent from beyond the arc while USF was 51 percent and 50 percent in the same categories.

Sperry led Grace with 19 points while Poynter  (16), Longenbaugh (15), Terrell (12) and Gerdt (10) all scored in double digits.

Grace will return to action on Saturday against Huntington.