Turnovers Prove Costly in Back-and-Forth Battle with Grace

UPLAND, Ind. – 13 second-half turnovers that led to 14 points for Grace proved costly in an 81-76 defeat for the Taylor women's basketball team (4-6, 0-4 CL) Saturday afternoon.

The Crossroads League foes went back-and-forth throughout the day, with each quarter being decided by four points or fewer as the lead changed 13 times.

TU and GC traded baskets early in what would become a common theme throughout the game. For the Trojans, starting forwards Whitney Warfel and Kacey Ott both got off to nice starts, while Emma Fohl delivered four assists and reserves Maycee Woods and Quinn Kelly each hit a trey in the opening period to give Taylor an 18-16 lead.

The purple and grey maintained a one-point advantage at the half behind eight more second-quarter points from Warfel, who also had two steals and a block in the game's first 20 minutes.

Grace (6-3, 1-3 CL), which entered play on Saturday leading the NAIA in free throws made per game with 24.2, got to the line 16 times in the first half – a precursor of what was yet to come.

Taylor turned the ball over seven times and the Lancers shot seven third-quarter free throws to take an 11-point edge with two minutes remaining in the period, 56-45. TU responded over the next few possessions, though, as Ava Henson connected on a remarkable four-point play and Quinn Kelly knocked down two triples to make it a three-point game, 58-55, heading into the final quarter.

Buckets by Fohl and Henson to start the fourth gave the Trojans the lead as part of an extended 14-2 run, but turnovers and fouls quickly returned to haunt the home squad despite late shot-making by Kelly and Fohl in the waning minutes.

Warfel matched her Taylor career high of 24 points as part of a well-rounded stat line that included team highs of six rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

Kelly poured in a career-high 17 points on 7-of-8 accuracy (3-of-4 from deep) to spearhead an efficient shooting night of 47.5 percent overall from the field, including 50.0 percent (10-of-20) from three-point range for TU. Fohl also aided those shooting numbers in multiple ways with career highs of 12 points and eight assists.

Taylor looks to right the ship in nonconference action to close out the calendar year, beginning with a road game at IU Southeast (1-4) on Thursday, December 12, at 7 p.m.