By Andrew Snyder
Sports Information Intern

WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Lynnia Noel became the 16th member of the 1,000-point club in Goshen College women's basketball history, but the Grace College Lancers stuck around and used a late surge to take the Crossroads League win 63-57 on Saturday afternoon in the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.

The Lancers jumped out to the early lead thanks to buckets from Pam Miller and Darian Patton. Goshen's senior guard combo of Sophie Sears and Noel responded to knot the game at 4-4. The game stayed close for all of the first quarter, with the Maple Leafs taking the 18-16 lead through the first 10 minutes, the difference being single free throws from Gabby Williams and Sydney Stein.  

The close game flow continued into the second stanza, with Goshen jumping out to their game-high lead of five points with 1:35 left before halftime. Grace center Haley Richardson would get two of those back to head into the locker room with the Maple Leafs up 32-29. Sears and Noel led Goshen with six points apiece in the half while Hannah Adams paced the Lancers with seven.

Grace shot 13-of-29 (45 percent) including a 3-of-10 (30 percent) mark from 3-point territory a missed their only free throw attempt of the half. Goshen went 14-of-35 (40 percent) from the field and only 2-of-10 (20 percent) from long range; the Maple Leafs went 2-of-3 from the charity stripe and also held a slight 16-15 edge in rebounds.

Four different Lancers began the scoring in the third quarter, as Grace used a 9-0 run to go up 38-32 with 6:50 left in the stanza. Four points from Sears led the Maple Leaf response, however by the end of the quarter the hosts held the slight 47-44 advantage.

Noel would score her 1,000th (and 1,001st) career points for Goshen to tie the game on a 3-pointer within the first minute of the fourth quarter, but the Maple Leafs would never come closer to a lead, as Richardson tallied nine of her 13 points in the final 10 minutes to lift Grace to the 63-57 final.

"It was disappointing to see that one get away in the fourth after we closed out down the stretch in the last three games," said Goshen coach Stephanie Miller. "This time Grace was the team that made the plays with the game on the line. They played hard and looked very determined to protect their home floor. We made too many mistakes in key moments to pull off a win on the road. They took advantage of our mistakes more than we were able to capitalize on theirs."

Goshen finished 23-of-62 (37 percent) from the floor and lost the rebound battle 30-27. Grace shot 23-of-50 (46 percent) from the field and went 11-of-16 (69 percent) from the free throw line, lead by Richardson's 13 points, Adams' 11 points and Kelsie Peterson's 10 points. Noel led all scorers with 17 points for the Maple Leafs, finishing with 1,006 points and becoming the fifth Maple Leaf in 23 months to reach quadruple figures. She was followed closely by Sears' 15 points, five assists and two steals.

"I have enjoyed watching Lynnia grow both on and off the court and am so proud of what she continues to achieve in a Goshen uniform," Miller said. "She has been a defensive stopper while at Goshen, but has really developed into a premier scorer over the last two seasons with her biggest shot coming as the game-winner in the first round of last season's national tournament. I have been so proud of Lynnia and she is so deserving of joining this elite club."

The Maple Leafs return home for their next game on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Mount Vernon Nazarene.