Grace College’s Darian Patton defends Holy Cross’ Shana Anderson (Triton HS graduate) on the perimeter in Grace’s season opener Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Chantel Shetler)

WINONA LAKE – Grace’s women’s basketball enjoyed a sparkling debut of its new fast-paced attack, running away to a 78-65 win over Holy Cross.

The Lady Lancers buried eight 3-pointers on Saturday, led by 23 points and five treys from Brooke Sugg off the bench.

Grace’s fullcourt press gave Holy Cross fits all game long. The Lady Lancers nabbed 19 steals and scored 30 points off those turnovers. Grace’s 19 steals were the team’s most since a Nov. 13 game against Calumet.

The season started on a bright note for Grace, opening up a 13-5 lead thanks to a pressing defense. Vironnica Drake, who scored 10 first-half points, scored Grace’s first points of the year on a 3-pointer.

But Holy Cross clawed back with an 11-0 run of its own to regain the lead 16-13 in the first quarter. Pam Miller ended the Saints’ run with a putback layup in the final seconds of the quarter to cut Grace’s deficit to 16-15.

In the second quarter, a late shooting spree by Sugg gave Grace a spark. Sugg buried a trio of 3’s in the final 3:50 of the half, propelling Grace to a 36-32 advantage at halftime.

Grace shot just 35 percent from the floor in the first half, but the Lady Lancers (1-0) made up for it by nearly doubling up the Saints in the rebounding battle, 23-12.

Sugg’s strong day continued in the third quarter. The sophomore scored eight points in the period, including a 3-pointer to beat the buzzer and lift the Lady Lancers to a 10-point lead.

The Saints (0-1) made a push to start the final quarter, scoring the first five points to chop Grace’s lead in half. Holy Cross eventually came within four points of Grace’s lead, but Sugg hit a shot to give Grace breathing room.

Kelsie Peterson was instrumental in the fourth quarter, handling the Saints’ pressure and slashing her way to seven points in the period.

Grace hit four free throws in the final minute to ice the win, taking revenge from losing last year’s season opener to the Saints.

Sugg’s 23 points came on 5-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc, and Drake racked up 18 points, three rebounds and three steals in her collegiate debut.

Peterson tallied 16 points, five boards and two assists, Hannah Adams pulled down a game-high nine rebounds to go along with three points, and Darian Patton had eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals.

Grace held a dominant plus-18 advantage in rebounding, and Grace’s bench outscored Holy Cross’s reserved 39-18.

The Lady Lancers’ season continues on Wednesday night with a 7 p.m. game at IU South Bend.