FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Grace College's women's basketball team dropped just their fifth Crossroads League game of the season to St. Francis by a score of 64-54 on Saturday afternoon.

Despite the loss, the Lady Lancers (19-8, 12-5 CL) are assured the No. 3 seed in the Crossroads League tournament which will start on February 21st.

Grace blitzed out to an early 6-0 lead as Peyton Murphy and Kiersten Findley both connected from beyond the arc.

An early USF (13-14, 9-8 CL) timeout allowed the Cougars to settle into the action as the teams went shot for shot to end the quarter.

Grace took a 13-7 lead into the second quarter after Kate Rulli connected on a pair of free-throws.

The Cougars started the second frame with a 3-point shot that ignited a 7-0 to tie the game at 13-points apiece.

Grace would answer back on back-to-back possessions as Findley and Maddie Ryman both found their touch from 3-point range.

After a Molly Long trifecta that edged the Lady Lancers ahead by seven points, Grace went cold from the field for a five-minute stretch.

During the Lady Lancers' drought, USF went on a 13-1 run to catapult themselves to a 28-23 lead.

Kaylee Patton finally put an end to Grace's offensive woes with a late bucket that sent Grace into the intermission trailing 28-25.

Grace had a balanced attack in the first half as all seven players who saw the floor scored. Grace shot 32 percent from the floor while USF shot 46 percent. The Cougars also held a massive 20-4 point advantage in the paint.

Early in the third quarter the Cougars extended their lead to eight points as Grace struggled to find their form from the field.

A timeout from Grace head coach Dan Davis seemed to calm the Lady Lancers, as they began to fin their offensive rhythm.

Peyton Murphy connected on a 3-point shot and Karlee Feldman muscled in a layup as Grace slowly chipped away at the deficit.

Grace would tie the game at 39, but the Cougars closed the half on a mini run and carried a 46-41 lead into the last stanza.

Ryman drew first blood in the fourth quarter with an old-fashioned 3-point play. Patton hit a 3-point shot from beyond the arc and Ryman edged Grace back into the lead with a layup.

The Lady Lancers' lead was short lived however, as the Cougars caught fire from range. USF connected on 80 percent of the 3-point attempts in the final quarter, including on back-to-back to which helped establish a 54-49 Cougar advantage.

Grace was able to pull within three-points with 4:09 left to play, but they were unable to overcome the deficit as they fell 64-54.

"This will be one that we will dissect in the film room and learn from," said Davis. "Credit to St. Francis, they finished the game better than we did in the last five minutes. I thought we let them dictate what we did offensively and we settled. On the defensive end we had some lapses in the fourth quarter that really hurt us after we got the lead. Like any game, we learn from the adversity and it will only make us stronger."

Ryman led Grace with 16 points, and Patton chipped in 10 of her own. Long added six points off the bench.

Grace finished the game shooting 32 percent from the floor and 27 percent from beyond the arc. The Lady Lancers were out rebounded 43-33.

Grace will close out the season on Wednesday as they travel to Spring Arbor for a 7 p.m. tip.