LUCAS, Ohio — Emily Niswander didn’t play like a freshman Tuesday night.
A 5-foot-5 point guard, Niswander came off the Lucas bench to score a game-high 12 points and the Cubs held on for a 33-21 win over Crestline in Mid-Buckeye Conference action at the Cub Cave.
Niswander added a team-high seven rebounds, five steals and three assists as Lucas swept the season series. She was at her best in the fourth quarter, converting all four of her free throw attempts and handling the Bulldogs’ relentless pressure.
“She’s been doing that for us,” Lucas coach Kathy Grover said. “She has good speed and good body control, especially for a freshman.”
Second-Half Surge: The Bulldogs (0-17, 0-10) trailed 17-8 at halftime, but outscored the Cubs (2-11, 2-8) 10-5 in the third quarter. A 3-pointer by Stephanie Thomas with 2:15 remaining in the period cut the Lucas lead to 19-18.
“We got back into it in the third, then we let it got away from us in the fourth quarter,” Crestline coach Dana Edmunds said. “We got outhustled.”
Stemming the Tide: Averi Niswander hit her second of three 3-pointers to give the Cubs a 22-18 heading to the fourth quarter, then connected on her final triple early in the fourth to push the advantage to 25-18. Crestline cut the lead to 25-21 on a Thomas jumper, but the Cubs closed on a 8-0 run.
“I was pleased with our composure in the fourth quarter,” Grover said. “I told the girls to keep shooting because our shots would eventually fall. We played good defense and boxed out.”
Pressure: Lucas employed a 1-3-1 halfcourt trap that caused the Bulldogs fits. The Cubs had 20 steals on the evening.
“We didn’t play that against them the first time around (a 50-44 Lucas win),” Grover said. “Maisey Granson does a nice job of leading our 1-3-1. We have good leaders and a deep bench so we can press and run up and down the floor.
“If we keep trapping and getting in passing lanes, good things will happen.”
Leaders: Averi Niswander backed Emily Niswander with nine points. Granson scored all four of her points in the fourth quarter and added six rebounds and five steals. Freshman Grace Spoerr had five boards and five steals.
Thomas topped the Bulldogs with 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Sarah Toy had six point and Dennesa Baker added five.
