SPRING ARBOR, Mich. - Grace's volleyball team was unable to collect a road win on Wednesday, falling at Spring Arbor 78-56.

The Lancers (5-3, 0-3 Crossroads League) were unable to keep pace with the Cougars after shooting 30 percent from the floor.

The first quarter was evenly matched. Grace led 7-6 after four minutes, but neither team could again score for nearly three minutes.

The Cougars quickly ripped off six points in a row, but Grace scored the final five.

Morganne Houk canned a 3-pointer in the corner in the final seconds of the quarter, allowing Grace to tie the score 12-12 after 10 minutes.

The Lancers shot just 31 percent from the field in the quarter but forced SAU into five turnovers.

Grace began the second quarter with six quick points, but the Cougars responded with a 9-0 run.

Houk kept Grace's offense rolling with a steady flow of baskets. Sophia Morrison also buried a deep triple to trim SAU's lead to three at 30-27.

The Cougars maintained a lead at the intermission, however, going into the break with a 34-29 lead.

The teams shot nearly identical from the floor, but the Cougars scored 14 points off turnovers and added 11 points off the bench.

Houk's 13 points led all players at halftime.

Grace's offense sputtered in the second, however. The Lancers made just two field goals in the third quarter, shooting 2 of 13 as a team.

Defensively though, Grace kept SAU within striking distance. Grace forced the Cougars into nine turnovers in the period, and the Lancers frequently turned those miscues into free throws.

Grace still found itself in a 53-41 hole as the game reached the final quarter.

The Lancers' offensive woes carried into the fourth quarter. Grace missed a series of shots in the paint as the visitors were unable to find an offensive rhythm.

Grace was held to six points over the first 5:26; the Cougars added to their double-digit lead, concluding with a 22-point win.

"Bottom line is we didn't make shots tonight, including several shots in the paint," said Grace head coach Dan Davis. "We did a good job with only 13 turnovers, but they were costly live-ball ones that led to easy points. Those two things aren't a good combination to expect to win conference games."

Houk finished with a game-high 21 points, and Peyton Murphy added 14 points, 6 boards, 4 assists and 3 steals.

Morrison tallied 9 points, 4 steals and 3 rebounds, and Kate Thomas notched 6 points, 6 boards and 2 assists.

The Lancers continue play on Saturday at 1 p.m. on the road against Taylor.