Pride overcome shooting struggles for 60-53 win at Graceland

LAMONI, Iowa - Trailing 53-51 late in the fourth quarter on Wednesday night, the Clarke University women's basketball team scored the final nine points of the game to pull away with a 60-53 victory over Graceland University on the road.

The Pride didn't settle for deep shots down the stretch as Emma Kelchen scored an offensive rebound layup to tie the game then Taylor Haase scored back-to-back post move layups to take and extend the lead. In their final offensive possession that mattered, CU ran their offense to a high quality open look from three-point range for Giana Michels as she knocked it down to ice the game at the seven-point lead.

Prior to the possession a near costly turnover almost allowed Graceland to stick in it but a hustle defensive play from Nicole McDermott prevented a breakaway layup and forced a jump ball with the possession arrow pointed towards Clarke's basket.

Clarke struggled shooting from the field, finishing 18-of-54 (33.3%) compared to 23-of-53 (43.4%) for the Yellowjackets as the big difference in scoring for CU came from the three point and free throw line. Combined from those two areas, the Pride outscored Graceland 30-11 on the three-point and one-point shots with GU outscoring Clarke 46-36 from two pointers.

Once again, Haase led the Pride in scoring from off the bench with her 11 points in 24 minutes as McDermott and Tina Ubl each added 10 points. Kelchen and Michels both scored nine with Kelchen grabbing nine rebounds while Mya Merschman and Hannah Ambrosy added five points each off the bench.

Clarke women's basketball will now return home for their next conference game when they host Evangel University this Saturday at noon at the Kehl Center.