CHICAGO, Ill. - Grace College's women's basketball team used an impressive fourth quarter effort to knock off Saint Xavier 74-67.

The Lancers (8-5, 1-3 Crossroads League) were led by strong scoring performances from Peyton Murphy, Emma Sperry and Morganne Houk who scored 18, 17 and 16 points respectively.

Bekah Marshall opened the scoring with a trifecta and Sperry had Grace's next seven points as Grace held a one-point lead at the midpoint of the quarter.

Saint Xavier jumped out to a five point lead after going on a 10-5 run which was ended by a 3-point field goal from Murphy.

A late score from Sperry helped the Lancers close the gap to two points, but a shot from beyond the arc with just second remaining in the opening frame pushed the Cougars ahead 24-19.

Saint Xavier opened the second quarter with another shot from range to open their lead to eight points. Murphy stopped the Cougars mini run with a pair of baskets including an old-fashioned 3-point play after finishing through contact.

Sophia Morrison connected on a deep shot and Murphy added another score from the paint as the Lancers drew to 34-33 with two minutes left in the half.

The Cougars momentarily pushed their advantage back to four points, but the Lancers responded when Houk made a layup and Murphy went 1-2 at the charity stripe to send the game into the halftime intermission with the Cougars ahead 37-36.

Marshall perfectly replicated the start of the first half when she sank a 3-point field goal to start the third quarter.

Her bucket gave the Lancers their first lead since the 3:50 mark of the opening frame. A steal from Murphy and a pull up jumper from Houk extended the Lancers' margin.

With 2:17 left in the third frame Kate Thomas scored to give Grace a 59-54 lead, however the Cougars scored the final five points of the quarter to tie the at 59 entering the fourth and final stanza.

The Cougars scored four of the first five points of the quarter to open up a three-point lead but it was the Lancers who would control the frame.

Houke had a pair of points at the charity stripe and Murphy recaptured the lead with an acrobatic score in the painted area. Houk added another free throw and Sperry capped off what proved to a 7-0 Grace scoring run which moved the Lancers ahead 62-58.

Saint Xavier managed to tie the game 63 points apiece but four points from Sperry including her second trifecta of the game pushed Grace back ahead.

A late free throw from Kensie Ryman gave Grace its largest lead of the game at seven points as the Lancers clinched the 74-67 win.

"This was a really big win," commented Grace head coach Dan Davis. "That is a really good team who has been playing some great ball as of late so for our girls to go the road and pick up victory was huge. Can't wait for Tuesday for our program to play in an awesome environment at Gainbridge and get to have that experience to close out 2024."

Murphy double doubled as she had 13 rebounds to go along with her team high 18 points. Sperry nabbed six rebounds and Houk added four assists.

Grace finished the game shooting 44 percent while Saint Xavier shot 39 percent.

The Lancers will return to action on Tuesday when they play Holy Cross at Gainbridge Fieldhouse following the conclusion of the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks contest.