WATERTOWN, Wis. -- In a closely contested game with Grace, one of the Sabercats' NCCAA regional rivals, Maranatha found themselves outmatched and outplayed in the final stretch of the game, taking a 71-60 loss.

Anna Alsup scored a career-high 22 points, while Lindsay Mikkelson recorded a double-double, with 14 points and 15 rebounds.

OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 60-71 Grace
• Venue: MBU Main Gymnasium
• Location: Watertown, Wis.
• Attendance: 75
• Records: MBU (1-20), GCC (7-17)

STORY
Anna Alsup jump-started her team, scoring the Sabercats' first 5 points of the game. Throughout the first quarter, the Sabercats trailed closely, eventually taking the lead. Thanks to a late steal by Lindsay Mikkelson, the Sabercats took the lead, 15-13. At the close of the first quarter, the Sabercats still clung to a 2-point lead, 19-17.

At the start of the second quarter, it was Katelyn Shank who gave the Sabercats the jump that they needed, scoring 5 points early on. However, timely subs by Grace's coach were able to force a near 3-minute scoring drought from the Sabercats, allowing the Tigers to take a 29-24 lead. Despite their 5-point deficit, the Sabercats were able to claw their way back to a 36-34 lead going into halftime.

Coming out of halftime, the Tigers' defense proved to be suffocating, allowing them to go on a 12-point run. Try as they might, the Sabercats were unable to take back the lead for the rest of the game. Although the final score stood at 71-60, that didn't tell the full story of the Sabercats' tenacity and the lead they held early on.

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Maranatha Starters: 3- Kennedy, 12- Pill, 14- Alsup, 15- Shank, 21- Mikkelson (C)

STATS

• Box Score
• Last time: Maranatha fell to Grace 37-62 earlier this season.
• Series: Grace now leads the series, 13-8.

OPPONENTS

• Grace competes with the Sabercats in the Midwest Region (NCCAA DII)
• Great Lakes finishes last season with a record of 5-20

NEXT

The Sabercats travel to Carlinville, Ill. to take on Blackburn on February 21 at 2:00 p.m.