INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Grace's women's basketball team was unable to hand No. 4 Marian its first loss of the season on Wednesday night.

The Lancers lost 113-66 on Wednesday while playing at the undefeated Knights.

Grace struggled out of the gate against Marian. The game was played much more evenly after the first period, but the Knights dealt a deadly blow in the first stanza.

Marian got off to a fast start, scoring on five straight possessions to begin the contest. Grace turned the ball over four times.

Grace mustered a single layup from Maddy Poynter over the first six minutes of the quarter. Marian scored at an efficient clip and quickly pulled ahead by 20.

Becca Gerdt made a layup with 3:38 left in the period, but Grace again went silent.

The Lancers were unable to score again and found themselves behind by 36 after one period.

Grace shot only 2 of 11 (18 percent) from the floor in the first quarter and turned the ball over 15 times; the Knights shot 61 percent as a team in the period.

The Lancers' offense found its footing for the rest of the game. Grace scored 24 points in each of the next two quarters as shots began to fall.

In the second quarter, Grace nailed four triples – from four different players – to jumpstart the attack. Poynter and Bekah Longenbaugh each scored five points in the period, but the Lancers were unable to put much of a dent in Marian's cushion.

The third quarter saw Grace put up another 24 points as the Lancers outscored Marian in the period.

Morganne Houk erupted with 11 points in the quarter, shooting 4 of 6 while also passing out two assists.

Houk added six more points in the fourth quarter, and Longenbaugh added a 3-pointer.

The fourth quarter was the lowest scoring of the game; Grace held Marian to just 29 percent shooting in the period (7 of 24).

"We started the game very timid and Marian punished us for playing on our heels," said Grace head coach Dan Davis. "I hope those last three quarters can be a catalyst for how hard you have to play for this system to work. I thought we finished the game playing some of the best ball that we have all season, we just have to be able to play that way for all four quarters."

Houk finished with 21 and four assists, Poynter had 10 points, and Braylin Terrell added 9 points, 5 boards and 1 blocked shot.

Gerdt nearly posted a double-double with 8 points, 11 rebounds and 1 block, Longenbaugh tallied eight points and three assists, and Emma Sperry notched 7 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks.

The Lancers remain on the road for another ranked battle on Saturday; Grace will take on No. 13 Indiana Wesleyan at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Grace will then return home on Wednesday (Jan. 14) for a matchup against Bethel, slated to tip off at 5:30 p.m.