LINCOLN -- Gravette pulled away from a narrow 41-40 lead at the end of the third quarter on the strength of making 33 of 39 free throws to win, 65-52, at Lincoln Jan. 17.
Lincoln coach Brian Davenport noted Gravette attempted 22 of their 39 free throws in the fourth. Gravette coach Will Pittman also noted that was a factor.
"We shot free throws real well," Pittman said. "Lincoln did a good job defensively, spread out in their 3-2 (zone). We drove (to the basket) well. Krystin Branscum did a good job tonight. Everybody who was in there hit free throws for us. Tori Foster did a great job. She had the flu. We didn't know whether she was going to be able to play tonight. She played the whole game. I'm really pleased with her toughness."
Gravette double-teamed Lincoln point-guard Kendra Cummings every time she crossed half-court, forcing her to pass off and holding her to a single free throw in the first half. Lincoln adjusted and Cummings scored 10 points in the second half to share game honors for Lincoln with Natalie Howard and Hollie Webb, who also scored 11 points apiece. The Lady Lions led 31-23 at halftime before Lincoln outscored them 17-10 in the third.
Krystin Branscum, who led Gravette with 20 points, opened the third-quarter scoring with a layup, putting Gravette up by 10 points, but Lincoln scored the next six points in rapid succession. Darian McConnell cleared a defender's handoff while putting back a Lincoln miss and converted a steal off the press sandwiched around two Jessica Goldman free throws as Lincoln narrowed the gap to 33-29. Caity Rose's foul shots broke the run, but Cummings answered with a 3-point play on an in-bounds play making the score 35-32.
Gravette pushed the lead back to five on Branscum's free throws, but Lincoln closed within a point three times in the last three minutes of the third, the last on Howard's layup. The Lady Wolves led twice early in the fourth, but Gravette answered with free throws on both occasions.
Webb scored on the offensive glass, giving Lincoln a 42-41 edge, and after Rose went 2 for 2 at the charity stripe, Lincoln again moved in front, at 44-43, with Cummings cutting to the basket and taking a pass from the corner. This time Foster went to the free throw line, making both ends of a 1-and-1. Jessica Bookout turned a steal into points after drawing a foul and sinking a pair of free throws, but Lincoln tied the game at 47-all with 6:02 left. McConnell picked up a loose ball and found Howard for a 3-pointer.
Gravette outscored Lincoln 18-5 down the stretch, making just two field goals the rest of the way while living at the free throw line.
"We had too many turnovers in this game," Davenport said. "Gravette came out and played a really good game. They were well-executed and had a really good game plan."
Gravette 65, Lincoln 52
Gravette^13^18^10^24--^65
Lincoln^9^14^17^12^--^52
Gravette: Kyrstin Branscum 5-10 9-11 20, Tori Foster 1-6 9-10 12, Jessica Bookout 4-13 2-2 10, Bernice Garcia 1-4 7-8 9, Cally Kildow 2-5 2-2 6, Teagan Dixon 2-7 2-4 6, Caity Rose 0-1 2-2 2, Stephanie Pinter 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-46, 33-39 65.
Lincoln: Kendra Cummings 4 3-5, 11, Natalie Howard 4 1-3 11, Hollie Webb 3 5-7 11, Darian McConnell 4 0-1 9, Jessica Goldman 2 3-4 7, Lexington Dobbs 1 0-0 2, Cunningham 0 1-2 1. Totals 18 13-22 52.
3-Point Goals Goals -- Gravette 2-13 (Krystin Branscum 1-3, Tori Foster 1-3, Cally Kildow 0-2, Jessica Bookout 0-5), Lincoln 3 (Howard 2, McConnell). Rebounds-- Gravette 34 (Branscum 11). Assists -- Gravette 4 (Dixon, Garcia, Kildow, Pinter). Steals -- Gravette 17 (Bookout 3, Foster 3). Blocks -- Gravette 1 (Foster). Turnovers -- Gravette 25. Total Fouls -- Gravette 26, Lincoln 26.
Sports on 01/25/2017