WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

It was sweet revenge for the Huntington women’s basketball team Wednesday night at Platt Arena where they topped the Grace Lancers 78-67. The win avenges their 15-point loss to GC last month.

The Foresters showed up on both ends of the floor with their defense dictating the afternoon. The hosts forced their visitors into coughing up the ball 18 times which they cashed in for 28 points. Additionally Maggard’s crew held Grace’s all-time leading scorer in Maddie Ryman to just nine points

At the other end of the floor, HU picked apart Grace’s signature zone defense with their play from downtown. Huntington tied the program record with 16 three-pointers.

Bailey Kelham led the charge by knocking down seven triples at a clip of 53.8 percent. Kyndell Jochim opened up the game’s scoring with her first of three long balls with her final two arguably the two biggest threes of the day.

With four minutes left in the third quarter, Huntington was on a roll having ballooned their lead to 15 at 46-31. But just as confidently as the Foresters had built their advantage, the Lancers just as boldly fired right back with a 20-3 run that bled into the fourth and turned the tides in favor of GC 51-49.

After Olivia Raby scored down low to knot things up at 51-51, Jochim went to work. The 6-0 rookie nailed a pair of threes within a two-minute span to spearhead a 10-0 run that put HU back in the driver’s seat with a 59-51 lead with five minutes to go. The Foresters never looked back after that.

Four other Foresters also stroked the long ball in a game that saw all but seven field goals come from deep. HU hit half their shots (23-for-46) which included that same percentage from beyond the arc (16-for-32).

Kelham topped all scorers with 25 points which included going a perfect 4-for-4 from the line down the stretch. She also handed out four assists and snagged three rebounds. In addition to handling Grace’s full court pressure from start to finish, junior point guard Gabi Melby tossed in 21 points, handed out eight assists and posted four rebounds and two steals.

Jochim came off the bench to chip in ten points. Raby and Annaka Nelson finished with seven apiece while Nelson ripped down a game-tying nine rebounds.

Peyton Murphy posted 20 points and nine boards to lead Grace in both categories. Kaylee Patton added 14 points while Kensie Ryman put up 12.

With this win, Huntington (13-12, 7-8) pulls even with Grace (12-13, 7-8) for a share of fifth in the league standings. The rivalry between these two squads dates back to 1976 with HU dominating the series 62-25 which includes a 12-year win streak of 16-0.

The Foresters head to #RV Spring Arbor on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. tip-off with the Cougars.