WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace's women's basketball team dropped a tightly contested 68-65 contest to Huntington on Saturday afternoon.
Grace finished the regular season with 18 wins, which tied a program record. The Lady Lancers also wrapped up the sixth seed in the Crossroads League tournament and will face St. Francis on Tuesday in the quarterfinals.
The game started off even as the teams were deadlocked at seven nearing the midpoint of the first quarter.
After a successful trip to the charity stripe for Kaylee Patton, Grace went on a mini-run to extend the lead.
Karlee Feldman scored a pair of tough buckets in the paint, and Kensie Ryman converted from beyond the arc to put Grace ahead by eight.
Maddie Ryman hit a late trifecta, and Kiersten Poor made a layup as Grace entered the second quarter with a 24-13 lead.
Grace was a perfect 3 of 3 from 3-point land in the first quarter.
Huntington cut Grace's lead down to six in the second. A basket from Kenzie McMahon and a trey from Patton pushed Grace back in front by double digits.
The Foresters again cut into the Lady Lancers' lead late, but Grace answered with another 3-point shot. Poor hit from 3-point land, and Feldman converted late to send the game to the half with Grace in front 40-30.
Grace shot 46 percent from the field and 75 percent from beyond the arc in the first half. Huntington struggled, converting just 35 percent of their shots.
The Lady Lancers had 13 assists on 14 made shots. Grace turned the ball over six times compared to Huntington's five. Maddie Ryman scored nine points in the first half.
A cold-shooting third quarter allowed the Forester's back in the game.
Grace went the first 6:12 of the third quarter before scoring a point. Grace went 1 of 12 from the field and 1 of 4 from the charity stripe. Grace turned the ball over seven times.
Huntington outscored Grace 15-3 in the quarter and took a two-point lead into the final 10 minutes.
The Foresters carried their momentum into the fourth. Huntington built its lead up to 12 by the midpoint of the quarter.
Ryman scored seven points for Grace, which helped the Lady Lancers get within five with two minutes left.
The Lady Lancers continued to chip away at the deficit. A Peyton Murphy layup got Grace within two.
Grace had chances late but was unable to come away with the victory as Huntington held onto the 68-65 lead.
"This was a disappointing end to a really good year," said Grace head Dan Davis. "We suffered from the same mistakes that have cost us throughout the year. We have a few days to regroup and get ready for St. Francis. No more redo's starting Tuesday."
Grace finished the game shooting 36 percent from the field compared to Huntington's 37 percent. The Lady Lancers turned the ball over 18 times.
Ryman led all players with 17 points and also added five boards. Patton scored 15 points, and Poor added 14.
Feldman scored six points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Grace will travel to St. Francis on Tuesday to begin the opening round. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
