By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

When you’re hot, you’re hot. But when you’re not, you’re not.

Cold shooting was the downfall of the St. Joseph Female Flyers as they lost to the Grace Christian Lady Soldiers 42-39 on Friday.

“The difference in the game was free throws. When you shoot 10 of 24 from the line and 14 of 65 from the field you’re not going to beat anyone,” said Female Flyers’ coach Nick Miller.

“We did play pretty good defense. It was a tribute to our defense that we shot so poorly and we were still in the game.”

St. Joseph was just 4 of 17 from the line in the first half and finished 10 of 24 for the game. The Female Flyers were 14 of 65 from the field for 21.5 percent.

“We work on free throws in practice. It was like the flu. Once we missed a few it just spread,” said coach Miller.

Hannah Miller had 20 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals to lead the Female Flyers (5-8). Sarah Neal grabbed 8 rebounds.

Alex Nelson scored 24 points for Grace Christian.

The Female Flyers scored 8 unanswered points to begin the game but the Soldiers rallied to take a 13-11 lead.

Nelson had 9 points in the second quarter to offset 6 by Hannah Miller and it was 28-23 at the half.

Hannah Miller scored all 5 of St. Joseph’s points in the third quarter as the Soldiers held a 35-28 lead.

Miller scored 5 points and Haley Bartram 4 to try and rally the Female Flyers, but Grace Christian made all 10 foul shots in the fourth quarter to hang on for the win.

St. Joseph hosts Portsmouth Notre Dame on Monday.

Grace Christian 13 15 7 7 = 42

St. Joseph 11 12 5 11 = 39

GRACE CHRISTIAN: Jodi Carpenter 0 0 0-0 0, Jordan Courts 2 0 1-2 5, Jacqui Johns 2 0 0-0 4, Alex Nelson 3 3 9-10 24, Jill Salyers 2 0 1-2 5, Jordan Poppins 2 0 0-2 4. Totals: 11 3 11-16 42. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.

SAINT JOSEPH (5-8): Katie Roach 0 0 0-0 0, Amber Neal 3 0 0-0 6, Sarah Neal 1 0 1-5 3, Becca Patrick 1 0 2-6 4, Hannah Miller 6 1 5-11 20, Haley Bartram 2 0 0-0 4, Molly 0 0 0-0 0, Meg Alexander 0 0 2-2 2. Totals: 14-65 10-24 39. 3-point goals: 1-10. Rebounds: 21-22=43 (H. Miller 17, S. Neal 8). Assists: 10 (H. Miller 3, Alexander 3). Steals: 9 (H. Miller 2, Alexander 2, A. Neal 2). Blocked shots: 5 (Alexander 2). Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.