WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace College's women's basketball team fell just short of completing the season sweep over Indiana Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon.

The Lancers (11-15, 3-13) battled tough throughout the contest but wound up on the wrong side of 77-71 final score.

Unlike the first matchup, Saturday's contest got off to a slow offensive start. Grace and IWU (15-11, 3-13 CL) combined for just nine points at the midpoint of the quarter.

The Lancers continued to struggle from the field while the Wildcats began to find consistency, allowing them to pull ahead 19-7.

Becca Gerdt hit a jumper from the free throw line and then Rylea Wetz stole the ensuing in-bounds play and fed Gerdt for another score six seconds later. Morganne Houk closed the frame with a fast break layup cutting the lead in half to six points heading into the quarter break.

Wetz added a trifecta in the early portion of the second frame, but the Lancers saw the deficit grow back to 11 points.

The Lancers then went on a 7-0 run including five consecutive makes at the charity stripe to cut the lead down to 29-25.

IWU would momentarily extend the lead again, late in the half but Grace seemed undaunted as Emma Sperry and Gerdt added late scores to send Grace into the half down 35-31.

The third quarter was Grace's best offensive performance off the day as they poured in 29 points while hitting at a 63 percent clip.

Grace was deadly from deep in the quarter as they hit eight treys, including one on the opening possession from Bekah Longenbaugh. Longenbaugh then tied the game at 35 from the free throw line.

The Lancers and Wildcats exchanged scores then Sperry gave the Lancers their first lead of the game with a quick release 3-point shot.

A pair of scores from IWU pushed the Wildcats back ahead but it was short lived as Wetz drained her second 3-point field goal of the game.

Both teams displayed their shooting touch down the stretch of the third quarter, as the next seven made buckets were all from behind the arc. Both Wetz and Longenbaugh hit two during the stretch.

Grace led 60-57 late in the frame and thought they had added to their advantage with a buzzer beating 3-point shot but after official review it was determined to be a shot clock violation. 1.4 seconds were then added back to the game clock and IWU took advantage, sending a full court pass and beating the buzzer with a layup to pull within a point entering the final frame.

The fourth quarter saw Grace struggle from the field as then went 1-11 from the field in the final stanza. They kept within striking distance thanks to efficient shooting from the charity stripe but the Wildcats led by as much as seven points in the quarter.

Grace was unable to muster the firepower needed to keep and pace, dropping the contest 77-71.

"This was a classic February matchup in the Crossroads League," commented Grace head coach Dan Davis. Two teams battling it out and leaving everything on the court. I am really proud of the way we played and thought we did a lot of good things. IWU just hit a few more shots and you have to credit them for that. We will pick ourselves up and get ready for the final week of the regular season."

Grace finished the game shooting 36 percent from the field with 10 trifectas while IWU shot 40 percent with 10 of their makes coming from beyond the arc.

Both teams were nearly identical in turnovers but the Wildcats enjoyed a wide margin in offensive rebounds and second chance points.

Sperry led all players with 19 points and Gerdt double-doubled with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Grace will travel to Bethel on Wednesday before closing out the regular season against Goshen next Saturday.