WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace's women's basketball team had a tough first half of action on Wednesday night, allowing No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan to ease away for a 66-43 win.

The Lady Lancers gave up a 3-pointer on the first possession and quickly fell behind 10-0. Grace was held to two points – on a bucket from Lindsey Schaefer – for the first 7:29 of the game and eventually trailed 25-5.

Grace faced its biggest margin of the half at 37-9 with three minutes left. The Lady Lancers managed to nearly double their offense in the final 2:09 of the half, scoring the final eight points before halftime. But the damage was done as IWU led 37-17 at the break.

The Wildcats' defense held Grace to 28-percent shooting in the opening period on 8-of-29 shooting.

The second half was better on the offensive end for Grace, but the Lady Lancers were still outscored 29-26 in the half.

No player for Grace scored in double figures. Allison Kauffman, JoElen Fickell and Kelsie Peterson were the closest with eight points apiece. Schaefer battled her way to 5 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists, and Gabby Bryant added five points and eight boards. Tiffany Petro also hauled in five rebounds.

The Lady Lancers' next Crossroads League contest is on Saturday with a doubleheader against Goshen at home. The women will tip off at 1 p.m. at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center with the men's game to follow at 3 p.m.