MARION, Ind. - Grace's women's basketball team fell 80-65 to Indiana Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon.

With the loss Grace moves to 16-7 on the season and 9-4 in the Crossroads League.

The Lady Lancers sit in third place in the Crossroads League and currently hold a two game advantage over fourth place.

Grace went to Feldman early and often in the first half. The junior center scored the Lady Lancers' first eight points as Grace built an early lead.

Kaylee Patton was the first Grace player other than Feldman to score to push the Lady Lancers ahead 10-7.

While IWU had no answer for Grace's inside presence, the Wildcats (20-3, 11-2 CL) 3-point shooting helped them take a narrow 17-14 advantage.

Patton responded to the Wildcats shooting, with a trifecta of her own, which she followed up with a jump shot on the next possession to recaptured the lead for Grace.

Grace would carry a 21-19 lead into the second quarter after Kate Rulli grabbed a late offensive rebound and scored on the tip-in attempt.

The Lady Lancers' lead was short lived however, as the Wildcats converted another 3-point shot to edge back in front.

Grace responded with poise though and Feldman again began to assert her will on the Wildcats interior defense.

Maddie Ryman converted a shot from beyond on the arc to push Grace's lead to five at the midpoint of the quarter.

IWU would tie the game 34, but a pair of Kiersten Findley free throws sent Grace into the halftime intermission with a 36-34 lead.

Grace shot a blistering 66 percent in the first quarter including 71 percent in the second quarter. The Lady Lancers outscored the Wildcats 24-12 in the paint.

Feldman had 15 first half points on 7-9 shooting. She was only slowed by three first half fouls.

Early in the second half Karlee Feldman was forced off the court with a questionable call which resulted in her fourth foul and Grace's offense sputtered. The Lady Lancers committed five turnovers in the opening 3:42 of the half.

The Lady Lancers' lead dissipated as the Wildcats went unconscious from the field. IWU finished the quarter shooting 73 percent from the field and hit five shots from beyond the arc.

Grace was outscored 31-17 in the quarter and went into the final Fram trailing 65-53.

The Lady Lancers tried to muster a comeback in the fourth quarter, but could not cut into the lead as they fell 80-65.  

"This one was frustrating," said Grace head coach Dan Davis. "It felt like some things outside our control really affected the game. I thought we played as good a 20 minutes as we have all season in the first half. Then in the third quarter when Karlee got called for her questionable fourth foul, we had some unforced turnovers and they hit some crazy shots. Still more good to take from this game than bad as we look to close out this season the way we know we can. Proud of how the girls kept their composure."

Feldman led the way for Grace with 19 points. Ryman, Patton and Findley all scored 12 points. Grace and IWU both shot 52 percent for the game, but the Wildcats connected on 10 3-point shots compared to Grace's three.

Grace will be back in action on Wednesday, as they travel to Mt. Vernon to take on the Cougars at 7 p.m.