Box Score MISHAWAKA, Ind. - Grace College's women's basketball team dropped a last second thriller to the Bethel Pilots on Saturday afternoon.

The Lancers (10-16, 3-13 Crossroads League) tied the game with 10 seconds remaining in the contest but the Pilots responded with what proved to be game winning basket with three seconds left and laid claim to the 60-56 win.

"What an outstanding effort from these ladies," said Grace head coach Dan Davis. "We are down to five healthy scholarship players and they basically all played 40 minutes. No one could have predicted some of the obstacles that we would have to face this year, but it speaks to their heart that this group has for them to continue to give it their all and put themselves in a position to win today's game." 

Bethel (13-13, 6-10 CL) got off to a fast start in the opening quarter and built a 13-6 lead by the middle of the frame. 

The Lancers closed the quarter on a 10-2 run which was started by a strong drive to the basket from Bekah Marshall. Kensie Ryman then hit a 3-point field goal on back-to-back possessions and Peyton Murphy added two points at the charity stripe to help the Lancers to a 16-15 lead heading into the quarter break.

Maddy Poynter extended the Grace lead to three points with a layup to start the second quarter. The Lancers' lead bounced between three and one over the next several minutes as Morganne Houk and Murphy answered each Bethel score. Murphy's bucket at the 6:15, which gave Grace a 24-21 lead, proved to be the final points of the opening half as the Lancers went scoreless for the remainder of the quarter.

The Pilots took advantage of Grace's dry spell with a 10-0 run to catapult ahead 33-24 by halftime.

Grace saw the deficit grow to double digits on Bethel's first shot of the third quarter but Marshall and Poynter answered back with a pair of baskets from the painted area.

The game continued to teeter through the middle of the quarter as the Pilots threatened to run away with a commanding lead as they led 42-31.

The short-handed Lancers continued to show resilience however and found success at the free throw line connecting on five shots in a row from the charity stripe to help cut the deficit down to four points. The Pilots converted an old-fashioned 3-point play to break up Grace's run but a final score from Ryman had Grace with 45-40 heading into the fourth and final quarter.

A pair of trifectas from Ryman sandwiched a Pilot layup to start the quarter as the Lancers drew within a single point.

Murphy scored on well executed play coming out of a Grace timeout to push the Lancers ahead 48-47. The two squads would trade the lead back and forth over the next several minutes and with a minute left the game was tied at 54 apiece.

With 31 seconds left the Pilots edged ahead 56-54 but Murphy showed the grit and determination of a senior as she finished through contact to tie the game with just 10 second left.

The tie would be short lived though as the Pilots ran the length of the floor to score and complete the and-1 play with just 2.9 second left. The Lancers game tying shot was off the mark and Pilots added one point from the free throw line to clinch the 60-54 win.

"This one hurts," Davis added. "We left everything out on the floor, we just had a few bounces go against us and obviously didn't get the result we wanted. Regardless of the outcome I couldn't be prouder of a group of ladies and I am so proud to get to be their coach."

The Lancers finished the game shooting 40 percent from the floor while holding the Pilots to 38 percent. Grace was out rebounded 28-25. The Lancers committed two fewer turnovers than the Pilots but had 10 less points off of turnovers.

Poynter led all players with 18 points and Ryman added 14 of her own. Murphy double doubled with 16 points and 10 rebounds. All five of Grace's starters played at least 37 minutes.

The lancers will return on Wednesday against St. Francis. Grace's senior class will be honored between the men's and women's games.