FULLERTON, Calif. - Grace College's women's basketball team dropped their first matchup in California on Wednesday afternoon.

The Lancers (7-6, 0-4 Crossroads League) fell to Hope International 78-64 after struggling to find an offensive rhythm.

A pair of 3-point field goals had Grace down six points early in the contest. Buckets in the paint from Maddy Poynter and Becca Gerdt got the Lancers on board.

Morganne Houk had a trifecta in the middle of the frame but eight Grace turnovers helped the Royals build a 21-14 advantage that they carried into the first quarter break.

Hope International increased the lead to nine points early in the second quarter before the Lancers answered back with a 7-0 run.

Grace's run was sparked by a score from Emma Sperry and then Braylin Terrell showed off on both ends of the floor with a block before finishing the ensuing possession with a layup on the offensive end.

With a little over a minute left in the half, Grace got their first lead of the contest. Houk had an acrobatic layup and Gerdt put the Lancers ahead three points with a score of her own.

The game entered halftime tied at 33 thanks to a last second 3-point field goal from the Royals.

Grace shot 10 percent from beyond the arc in the first half and 30 percent from the field. The Royals shot 28 percent from the floor.

Grace and Hope International battled back and forth to start the second half. There were four lead changes in the opening minutes. Grace's last lead came at 40-39 following a pair of free throws from Sperry.  

Hope International was finally able to cause some separation between the squads after sinking two 3-point field goals in consecutive possessions.

Grace continued to pound the paint with scores from Terrell and Poynter but the Royals extended their lead to as many as seven points and led 53-47 entering the last quarter of play.

Houk and Sperry had Grace within four points early in the frame but the Lancers were unable to get any closer. The Royals relied on the 3-point shot to push the lead to 14 points by the middle of the stanza.

Gerdt scored on consecutive possessions but Grace could not get the deficit back to single digits and ultimately fell 78-64.

"This was a game where we struggled to connect from the floor," commented Grace head coach Dan Davis. "Even when shots aren't falling for us, we need to be better at not letting that affect our defense. I thought we lapsed a little on that end of the defensive side floor because of that and credit them for making us pay by knocking down their 3-point baskets."

The Royals made 14 shots from beyond the arc while the Lancers connected on two. Grace shot 30 percent from the floor compared to Hope International's 34 percent. Both teams committed 20 turnovers.

Houk led Grace with 23 points and Sperry (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Gerdt (10 points, 14 rebounds) both double-doubled.

Grace will be back in action on Thursday against Stanton.