RICHMOND, Ind. - Grace College's women's basketball team picked up its first win of the season in dramatic fashion with a 72-70 victory over IU East on Saturday afternoon.

Things looked dire for the Lancers as they trailed by 15 points with just 8:14 remaining in the fourth quarter. Grace didn't roll over however, as the Lancers went on a 16-0 run and Maddie Ryman iced the game at the free-throw line to secure the win.

Freshman Morganne Houk, who had a dazzling debut, got the Lancers started offensively with a 3-point basket on Grace's first possession of the game.

The Lancers faced an early four-point deficit, but an 11-0 run capped by a Kensie Ryman layup saw the Lancers jump ahead 18-11.

Maddie Ryman led Grace offensively with 10 first quarter points as the Lancers 22-15 after the first stanza.

In the second quarter, Grace saw its lead grow to as many as 9 points before going ice cold from the field. The Lancers ended the half missing their final seven shots, and turned the ball over six times.

Grace shot just 11 percent from the field in the second quarter, and at the half the Red Wolves led 30-28.

The Lancers were tenacious on the boards and it paid off early in the second half. Kaylee Patton took advantage of a pair of Peyton Murphy offensive rebounds to draw Grace even with IU East.

The Red Wolves offensive fire-power was too much for the Lancers to match in the quarter as IU East began to widen the margin.

After falling behind by 13 points, a pair of Kensie Ryman free-throws and a basket from Houk pulled Grace back within single digits, but a late 3-pointer pushed the deficit back to 12.

The deficit reached its widest mark of 15 points with 8:15 left in the quarter before the Lancers began their furious run.

Maddie Ryman got the comeback started with a basket in the paint, and then Murphy rattled off five quick points to pull Grace back within 8 points.

Kaylee Patton completed an and-1 basket and Houk converted a tough layup which prompted a timeout from the Red Wolves coach. In less than three minutes of game time, Grace had cut the deficit down by 12-points.

Two-more Murphy free-throws and another basket from Houk pushed Grace ahead with 4:27 left.

The teams traded the lead back-and-forth and with 27 seconds left Grace trailed by one.

On Grace's ensuing possession Maddie Ryman missed the go-ahead shot, but got her own rebound and was fouled to her to the charity stripe. The senior calmy sank both shots to put Grace ahead for good.

Murphy added another free throw to put the finishing touches on the 72-20 victory.

"We found a way to win today," said Grace head coach Dan Davis. "We struggled a little bit in the second and third quarters, but we showed a lot of grit and toughness to get a road win. Proud of the girls for grinding one out to start the season."

Maddie Ryman finished the game with 19 points and eight rebounds. Murphy had an eye-popping stat line of 18 points, 14 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks.

Houk had 18 points and seven rebounds in her first collegiate action.

Grace finished the game 33 percent from the floor, 22 percent from beyond the arc and 62 percent from the charity stripe. IU East shot 38, 26, and 54 percent in the same categories.

The Lancers next action will be the season opener on November 7th at 7 p.m. against Roosevelt.