February 19, 2023 | by Ashley Nerat

LEAD

WYOMING, Mich. -- The Sabercats put up a good fight, but could not get the job done, falling 51-73 against Grace Christian.

Freshman Delaney Thompson saw her first collegiate start and finished with a career-high seven points and 12 rebounds. Lindsay Mikkelson also finished with a career-high 13 points. 

OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 51-73 Grace Christian
• Venue: Aldrich Athletic Center - Grace Christian University
• Location: Wyoming, Michigan
• Attendance: -
• Records: MBU (4-15), GCU (11-11)

STORY    

Maranatha went into their matchup against Grace shorthanded, missing three of their prominent players. Lindsay Mikkelson and Delaney Thompson both stepped up to help the team as they joined the starting lineup for the day. This was Thompson's first start for the Sabercats.

Despite the lineup change, the Sabercats came out strong. The Tigers' heavy aggression put them in early foul trouble and gave the Sabercats an edge. Maranatha went 6/10 from the free-throw line in the first quarter and held a 17-13 lead at the first buzzer. 

The Sabercats carried their energy from the end of the first into the second, starting the quarter with a 7-0 run. But with just under three minutes to go in the half, Grace started to gain momentum and went on a nine-point run to tie the game 29-29 going into the half. 

It was Grace that grabbed the lead at the start of the third, but Maranatha would not give up. Both teams battled throughout the quarter keeping it at a tight 48-42 game with Grace in the lead going into the final 10 minutes. But the final quarter was the start of the end for the Sabercats. They couldn't seem to get the ball to drop, going only 4-18 from the field in those final minutes. 

It was a fight from start to finish, but Maranatha ultimately fell 51-73. Katelyn Morrison led her team with 21 points. She was just one rebound away from a double-double. Mikkelson and Thompson both achieved their career high in points with 13 and seven respectively. Thompson also grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds. Kyria Teachout fell just one rebound short of achieving her new career high; she finished with 14 on the day.  

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Maranatha Starters: 12- Ab. Herbster, 13- Teachout, 21- Mikkelson, 25- Morrison, 35- Thompson

STATS

• Thompson: 7PTS*, 10REB*
• Mikkelson: 13PTS*, 6REB
• Box score
• MBU: shot 29.2 percent from the field
• GCU: shot 36.4 percent from the field
• Last time: Maranatha fell 52-59 to Grace in the '20-'21 NCCAA National Tournament Opener.
• Series: Maranatha leads the all-time series 27-13
• Series: Maranatha leads the all-time postseason series 9-3

(*Career-High)

OPPONENTS

• Grace competes in the NCCAA Mideast Region
• Grace finished the '21-'22 season winless with an 14-12
• Grace fell to Campbellsville-Harrodsburg in the NCCAA Mideast Regional Championship
• Grace still competed in the NCCAA National Tournament, but lost in the first round to Arlington Baptist Univeristy

NEXT

The Sabercats travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to face Mount Mary on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.