Gradney, Celestine lead Iowa to win over LCCP
Published 1:07 am Saturday, February 3, 2024
- Iowa's Jaya Gradney had a double-double Friday, Feb. 2, with 23 points and 11 steals as the Yellow Jackets beat Lake Charles College Prep 63-16 at Iowa High School. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)
IOWA — Jaya Gradney and Kimora Celestine had double-doubles, and Iowa ended a two-game slide with a dominant 63-16 win over Lake Charles College Prep on Friday.
Gradney had 23 points and 11 steals, while Celestine had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Aubrey Young had 14 points, four rebounds and three steals.
Lake Charles College Prep (14-10, 0-4) struck first on a 3-pointer by Anya Godette, who also scored on a fastbreak with 16 seconds left in the first quarter to pull the Trailblazers within two, 12-10.
But Iowa (23-5, 3-2) used its defense to take over the game. The Yellow Jackets forced 18 turnovers in the second quarter and held the Trailblazers to single field goal while putting together a 16-0 run. LCCP turned the ball over on 14 consecutive possessions.
Iowa held LCCP scoreless over the final 9:58 of the game and outrebounded them 34-15.
Godette led LCCP with seven points as the Trailblazers lost their sixth consecutive game.
