WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The (RV) HU women’s basketball team extended its win streak to three with a convincing 82–68 road win over Grace College on Wednesday afternoon at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center. The Foresters improve to 7-3 overall and 2-1 in Crossroads League play, while the Lancers move to 6-4 and remain in search of their first league win at 0-3. The victory also marks HU’s fourth straight over Grace.

The visitors embraced the Lancers’ up-tempo style from opening tip, scoring their first 12 points in the paint to seize a lead they would give up just once all day. Freshman Izzy Shepherd punctuated the opening frame with her first collegiate bucket, sending the Foresters into the first break up 22–16.

Grace’s lone advantage came briefly at the 6:39 mark of the second quarter, 25–24, but Huntington’s response was emphatic. Floor general Kyndra Sheets erupted for nine points in a 90-second span, sparking an 11–0 run that turned momentum permanently in HU’s favor. Annaka Nelson closed the half with four straight points as the Foresters carried a 45–32 lead into intermission.

Nelson kept the surge going to start the third, scoring the first seven points of the frame to stretch the margin to 52–32. The Foresters’ lead swelled to as many as 29 before Grace trimmed it to 13 late, but the outcome was never in doubt as HU closed out the 14-point road win.

Huntington dominated the interior all afternoon, outscoring the Lancers 46–16 in the paint and turning 17 offensive boards into 16 second-chance points. HU also controlled the glass 59–46 and held this week’s CL Player of the Week, Emma Sperry, to just nine points.

The Foresters were powered by several standout individual performances, led by Addy Shank who made the most of her starting nod with a career-high 22 points on 9-for-13 shooting to go along with eight rebounds. Sheets followed with a career-best 21 points, including 3-for-5 from deep, while Nelson filled the stat sheet with 16 points, eight boards, four assists, four steals and three blocks.

Liv Raby added a double-digit effort with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Shepherd chipped in five points in her HU debut. Teegan Acres and Lauryn Merritt came off the bench to rip down nine and eight rebounds respectively which included a combined seven from the offensive glass.

Grace was paced by Morganne Houk who finished with a game-high 24 points, while Maddy Poynter tallied 14.

The Foresters return to Platt Arena on Saturday to host #19 Indiana Wesleyan at 1:00 p.m.