MARION, Ind. - Grace's women's basketball team played even with No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan for three quarters on Tuesday.

Unfortunately for the Lady Lancers (5-5, 0-1 Crossroads League), one bad quarter was enough to hand IWU a 68-54 win.

Grace's poor quarter was the third. Apart from the third quarter, it was a two-point game between Grace and the Wildcats (6-3, 1-0 CL).

At halftime, Grace and IWU were separated by just one point at 27-26. Lauren Godfrey sparked Grace in the first half, producing eight points in the second quarter.

The third quarter proved to be Grace's undoing. Vironnica Drake started the scoring in the second half with a basket to give Grace a one-point lead. The rest of the quarter belonged to the Wildcats.

IWU erupted for 24 points in the period, making 10-of-15 from the floor. When the fourth quarter began, Grace found itself in a 51-38 hole.

The Lady Lancers still managed to cut the Wildcats' lead down to single digits in the fourth. Brooke Sugg, the reigning league Player of the Week, sank a 3-pointer with under eight minutes remaining to bring Grace within eight points.

But IWU responded with baskets on its next two possessions, and Grace did not threaten again.

Darian Patton tallied a team-high 12 points and three assists, and Godfrey added 11 points with a trio of 3-pointers off the bench.

Sugg also hit three triples and scored 11 points, and Drake and Haley Richardson each scored eight. Richardson also added 5 boards, 2 blocks and 2 steals, and Drake had four rebounds and three assists.

Grace did not attempt a free throw all game as IWU was only whistled for four fouls. The Wildcats, on the other hand, made 14-of-15 from the charity stripe.

IWU also held a dominant 36-24 advantage in rebounding.

The Lady Lancers will host two doubleheaders with the men's team next week. On Wednesday, Grace welcomes Mt. Vernon Nazarene. On Saturday, archival Bethel heads to Grace.