MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Grace College's women's basketball team dropped its season final 68-62 to Mount Vernon on Saturday afternoon.

The Lancers (10-18, 3-15 Crossroads League) had three players score in double digits in Saturday's contest, including Peyton Murphy who had 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Morganne Houk was the first Lancer on the board when she answered a game-opening triple from the Cougars (15-13, 7-11 CL) with one of her own.

Murphy had Grace's next four points and then Bekah Marshall found her touch from deep to give the Lancers 10-9 lead at the midpoint of the quarter.

MVNU worked their way to a 19-15 lead with 2:13 left but Grace's defense held the Cougars scoreless for the remainder of the frame.

Marshall scored in traffic and on the next possession Maddy Poytner connected on a trifecta to push the Lancers into the lead. Murphy capped the quarter with an old-fashioned 3-point play to give Grace a 23-19 advantage entering the second quarter.

In the first quarter Grace 53 percent from the floor, 50 percent from beyond the arc and 100 percent from the charity stripe.

The Lancers did not find the same offensive consistency in the second quarter as they enjoyed in the first, but they still led at the midpoint of the quarter and after a layup from Murphy increased the lead to six.

A 7-2 run from the Cougars saw them jump ahead 34-32, but the lead would be short lived as scores from Houk and Murphy recaptured the lead for Grace.

MVNU had a 3-point basket and Marshall closed the half with a tough drive to basket to send Grace into the halftime intermission with a 38-37 lead.

Grace shot an even 50 percent from the floor in the opening half while Murphy exploded for 16 first half points.

MVNU tied the game from the charity stripe in the opening minutes but Murphy put Grace back ahead with a deep shot from beyond the arc.

The lead was traded back and forth over the middle portion of the frame until a 6-0 run for MVNU seemed to slide momentum in the Cougars favor.

A trio of Cougars free throws to end the quarter had the Lancers trailing 55-51 entering the fourth quarter.

The Lancers held the Cougars to their lowest output of the game in the final quarter but were likewise limited offensively.

Grace managed to pull to as close as two points but were unable to overcome the deficit, ultimately losing 68-62.

"Proud of this team for leaving everything they had on the floor just like they have all year," said Grace head coach Dan Davis. "We faced so much adversity this season with injuries but these girls continued to battle and love each other so well and that's what makes me proud as their coach. I also can't express how thankful I am for the impact that our three seniors have had on this program in the ways that they carried themselves as leaders on and off the court."

Grace finished the game shooting 42 percent from the floor with six made trifectas. MVNU shot 39 percent with 10 made 3-point field goals. Both teams had 26 rebounds. Grace had two more turnovers.

Houke finished the game with 17 points and Marshall also found double digits. Poynter had nine points and Kensie Ryman grabbed 10 rebounds.

This marks the final game for seniors Murphy, Ryman and Kate Rulli.