WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace College's women's basketball team fell to Mount Vernon Nazarene 99-82 on Saturday afternoon.

The Lancers (8-7, 0-5 Crossroads League) struggled from the floor, connecting on just 35 percent of their shots, allowing the Cougars to pull away for the 17-point victory.

Emma Sperry started the game with a 3-point shot and Kate Thomas added a pair of points at the charity stripe. Grace led 7-2 less than two minutes into the game.

MVNU (5-10, 1-4 CL) responded with a 11-2 run of their own that pushed them into a lead they would not relinquish. The Cougars run was ended by another trifecta from Sperry.

While Grace struggled to score late in the quarter, the Cougars continued to click on the offensive end of the floor, scoring the final nine points of the frame. MVNU led 26-14 after the first quarter.

A steal from Maddy Poynter sprung a Lancer fastbreak and Bekah Longenbaugh was ready on the other end, burying a 3-point shot to start the second quarter.

Poynter then scored and the Lancers' press forced an immediate steal and score for Kate Thomas cutting the deficit to seven points.

Becca Gerdt got on the scoresheet and Poynter added two more at the free throw line which pulled Grace to within three points at 37-34 with 3:44 left in the half.

After seeing their lead dwindle to a single possession, the Cougars ended the half on a strong note, including scoring six points at the charity stripe to carry 52-42 lead into the intermission.

Grace shot 36 percent from the floor in the first half while MVNU shot 59 percent. The Cougars held a narrow 28-22 edge for points in the paint while the Lancers led second-chance points (12-7).

As the second half got underway the Lancers saw their deficit grow to 14 points. Sperry made two 3-point plays and also had a nifty no-look assist that swiftly pulled Grace back within striking distance at 60-54.

Timely 3-point shooting from the Cougars stalled Grace's momentum however as MVNU blitzed back ahead by 15 points. The quarter ended with Grace behind 83-68.

Rylea Wetz had the Lancers first four points in the final frame as the Lancers tried to muster a comeback.

Gerdt pulled Grace to within 11 points by the midpoint of the quarter but it was as close as they would get before ultimately falling 99-82.

"From a statistical standpoint we hit a lot of the marks that we were aiming for, the bottom line is we just have to make more shots," commented Grace head coach Dan Davis. "I am proud of how the ladies competed to the end but we have to do a better job of correcting some of these mistakes that we are making that lead to three or four minute stretches where we kinda freeze. You can't have those moments and expect to beat the quality of team that we have in this conference.

Grace ended the game with fewer turnovers (24-16), more second-chance points (22-9), more fast-break points (42-26) and more free throws (20-18).

MVNU held a narrow advantage in points in the paint 48-40 and out shot the Lancers 57 percent to 35 percent.

Sperry led Grace with 22 points while Poynter had 17. Braylin Terrell narrowly missed a double double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

The Lancers will return to action on Wednesday against No. 5 Marian.