SIENA HEIGHTS, Mich. - Grace's women's basketball team tasted defeat for the first time this season on Saturday.

The Lady Lancers (3-1) fell to Siena Heights 66-55 during a tournament at Lawrence Tech. Grace recovered from a big deficit in the first quarter only to sputter to defeat in the fourth quarter.

Grace's shooting touch was off as a team, making just 34 percent from the floor and 25 percent (6 of 24) from beyond the arc. That fact was most pronounced in the fourth quarter when Grace was outscored by 11, making only three of its 15 field goals.

The Lady Lancers sputtered out of the gate on Saturday, scoring two points over the first 4:12 of action.

Siena Heights quickly opened up a double-digit lead, pulling ahead by as many as 23-7 in the first quarter.

The Saints were held scoreless over the last two minutes, but Grace still trailed 23-12 at the end of the first quarter.

Grace kept pace with Siena for much of the second quarter, and the Lady Lancers began to chip away at the deficit shortly before halftime.

Kenzie McMahon and Kensie Ryman scored on back-to-back plays to start a small run by Grace, and Olivia Pearson buried a corner 3-pointer on the next play which cut the deficit to 35-28.

The Saints took a 37-29 lead into halftime, but Grace's momentum continued into the third quarter.

SHU began the third-quarter scoring with a layup, but the next six minutes belonged to Grace. The Lady Lancers enjoyed a 13-2 surge to stun the Saints. Kaylee Patton hit a 3-pointer, and McMahon added three more points.

Kiersten Poor's and-1 layup pulled the team within one, and Poor scored again on the next possession to give Grace its first lead at 42-41.

After a pair of free throws by the Saints, Ryman hit a triple for a two-point lead.

The teams entered the fourth quarter deadlocked at 47-47; Grace outscored SHU by 11 across the second and third periods.

The Saints seized the lead early in the fourth quarter by scoring nine points in the first 2:14, aided by two 3-pointers.

Grace struggled to make headway in the final stanza as the team's shooting touch went missing. The Lady Lancers only scored nine points in the fourth quarter, and just three points over the final 7:18 of regulation.

SHU, on the other hand, shot 63 percent from the floor in the fourth quarter which allowed the Saints to ease away for the victory.

Poor led Grace with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals, and McMahon added 13 points, 4 boards, 3 steals and 1 blocked shot.

Karlee Feldman had a team-high seven rebounds, and Patton tied for the team lead with four assists.

"We had a disappointing start, putting ourselves into a hole. We woke up in the second and third quarters and started to play good basketball. We took high percentage shots and gave them trouble defensively," said Grace head coach Dan Davis. "But give credit to Siena Heights at the end. Their experience showed as they did what they wanted to do better than we did what we wanted to do. I have no doubt that this group will be ready to play tomorrow, and I look forward to seeing how our young team responds."

The Lady Lancers will end the weekend tournament with another game on Sunday against the hosts Lawrence Tech.