INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Grace's women's basketball team fell during a memorable evening at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Lancers lost 66-61 to Holy Cross on New Year's Eve, playing on the home court of the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever.

Grace (8-7) struggled to shoot well on the marquee court, shooting just 30 percent from the floor for the game and 15 percent on 3-pointers.

Tuesday's matchup was close from start to finish. Grace began the game by scoring immediately with Peyton Murphy finishing a breakaway layup right after the tipoff.

But Grace needed more than four minutes to score another field goal. The Saints took advantage to grab a 9-3 lead.

The Lancers rallied to tie the score at 11s and trailed just 18-16 by the end of the opening quarter. Murphy (7 points), Sophia Morrison (5) and Morganne Houk (4) had all of Grace's points in the period.

Grace's defense, which was active all evening, forced three turnovers in the first two minutes of the second quarter.

A layup from Emma Sperry gave Grace a two-point edge, but the Lancers came up empty on their next six possessions.

Holy Cross regained the lead and held it for a 31-29 halftime advantage.

The Lancers never led in the third quarter, but Grace kept the Saints within striking distance. Holy Cross grabbed a seven-point edge, but Houk countered with six straight points.

Late scores from Murphy and Morrison allowed Grace to tie the game 46-46 as the contest reached the final stanza.

But Grace's shooting touch went ice cold in the fourth quarter. The Lancers missed their first nine field goals to start the fourth.

Grace's first made field goal in the final quarter came on a layup from Maddy Poynter with 3:07 left in regulation.

But Grace's defense kept the score close, and the Lancers battled their way to the free throw line.

Grace chopped a 10-point cushion down to three with a furious late comeback, but time ran out on Grace's recovery. The Saints made enough free throws down the stretch to hold on for a five-point win.

The Lancers shot only 2 of 14 (14 percent) from the floor in the fourth quarter.

Defensively, Grace forced Holy Cross into 24 turnovers by nabbing 14 steals.

Murphy led Grace's offense with 14 points, adding 9 rebounds, 6 steals and 3 assists.

Houk tallied 11 points, 3 boards and 2 steals, and Emma Sperry collected 9 points, 8 boards, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals.

Morrison scored nine points with a pair of steals, and Bekah Marshall added eight points with three rebounds.

"Tonight was an awesome, once-in-a-lifetime experience for our team. It was really neat to be on that floor and play a game against a solid opponent like Holy Cross," said Grace head coach Dan Davis. "We needed to be much more consistent tonight. If we make free throws and layups, we likely walk out of that game with a win. So we'll work on being more consistent in the little things."

The Lancers will play at home this Saturday for the first time in three weeks. Grace will host Goshen at 1 p.m. for the resumption of the Crossroads League portion of the schedule.