LAMONI, Iowa – Graceland shot over 50 percent from the floor in three of four quarters on Saturday afternoon and held off a fourth-quarter comeback by (25) Raven Women's Basketball to earn a 63-56 win.
Graceland connected on 71.7 percent from the floor over the first 20 minutes of the game while holding Benedictine to just 33.3. That effort from the floor allowed the Yellowjackets to lead by as much as 15 points in the second quarter before Benedictine cut that deficit down to nine points at the half.
Ali Brzozowski and Skylar Washington combined to score the final 8 points of the half for Benedictine as they closed out the half on an 8-2 run. A 3-pointer from Brzozowski seconds in the third quarter cut the Yellowjackets lead down to 6 points.
Graceland pushed their lead back to double figures midway through the third quarter before a free throw from Riley Wade pulled Benedictine within 3 points with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Yellowjackets stretched another scoring run into the fourth quarter to build their lead back to as much as 13 early in the fourth quarter. The Ravens didn't back down and outscored Graceland 17-14 in the final 10 minutes of the game but couldn't get over the hump as they closed with three on a pair of Natalie Smaron free throws with 57 seconds remaining.
While defensively, the Ravens held the Yellowjackets to just 36.4 percent from the floor in the second half, they were limited to just 26.5 percent hitting just 9 shots over the final 20 minutes of the game.
Benedictine scored 19 points off 20 turnovers by Graceland and finished with two players in double figures. Washington finished with 20 points while Brzozoswki added 19. Smaron finished with 10 rebounds as the Ravens finished with a 35-31 advantage on the boards.
The Ravens remain on the road on Wednesday, traveling to Baldwin City to take on Baker University at 5:30 p.m.
