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The Lady Cougars fell to the Crisp Academy Lady Wildcats 30-44. Crisp pulled away early and proved too much for Grace to overcome.

Junior guard Chloe Brogdon recorded a double-double and led the team with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Lady Cougars’ Head Coach Kelsey Harrell said she saw a growing confidence in Brogdon’s ability to drive to the basket and make plays.

“I’m hoping that gives her a fire to keep going,” Harrell said.

The Lady Cougars opened the scoring with a baseline jumper from junior shooting guard Reagan Delanoy. The Lady Wildcats fired back and outscored Grace by double in the first quarter— ending the quarter with a 14-7 lead.

The Lady Cougars found clarity on defense in the second quarter. They held the Lady Wildcats to four points halfway through the second quarter. The Grace offense picked up as the game approached halftime, and they outscored Crisp 5-4 through the rest of the quarter. 

Three of the five points were courtesy of a Delanoy buzzer-beater to end the quarter. The junior guard heaved a shot from the logo as the time hit zero, making it in the basket and sending the crowd to their feet. The Lady Wildcats led 22-12 going into the half.

The Lady Cougars’ ten-point deficit was due partly to a high-pressure, full-court press from the Lady Wildcats. Crisp forced 29 turnovers through the entirety of the game.

The Lady Cougars saw more efficient play in the second half. They scored more and held the Lady Wildcats to less in the half, with a half score of 20-16. But it was to no avail, as the game ended 30-44. Though Grace didn’t come out with a win, Harrell said her team’s performance was a “step in the right direction.”

“When we see Crisp next time, we should win,” Harrell told the players. “There is no reason why you don’t win.”

The Lady Cougars travel to Fullington Academy for their next matchup. The away game tips off at 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 12.