Grace College women’s basketball coach Scott Blum gives instructions during action Tuesday night. Marian edged host Grace 71-67 in a first-round game of the Croossroads League Tournament (Photos provided by Patrick Stukkie)

WINONA LAKE – Playing for the first time as a top-four seed in the Crossroads League Tournament, the Grace College women’s basketball team was upset by Marian, 71-67, on Tuesday night.

The Lady Lancers (16-15) surrendered 42 points in the second half, and the Knights’ (16-15) strong shooting after halftime propelled fifth-seeded Marian to the win.

Allison Kauffman produced a game-high 24 points to power Grace at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.

In the first half Grace struggled offensively against Marian’s stingy man defense. The Lady Lancers were limited to 13-of-34 shooting in the opening period.

Allison Kauffman led Grace with 24 points.

Kauffman was Grace’s primary source of scoring in the first half. The junior forward tallied 13 points before halftime. Her rebound putback in the final 13 seconds lifted Grace to a 31-29 lead heading into the halftime break.

Within the first minute of the second half, quick scores from Darian Patton and Lindsey Schaefer lifted Grace to a seven-point cushion.

Grace maintained their lead for the next 10 minutes, but a strong offensive push by the Knights drove the visiting team ahead. Marian ripped off 13 points in a four-minute span to claim a 59-58 lead with 5:59 to play.

A late cold streak doomed Grace down the stretch. The Lady Lancers were held to two points over a 5:14 period, allowing the Knights to inch ahead by six with one minute remaining in the contest. Grace produced five points in the last few frantic seconds, but their late push was not enough as Marian held on to win by four.

The Knights, who had lost twice to Grace in conference play during the regular season, made 50 percent of their shots from the floor in the second half and were 10-of-11 from the foul line.

Kauffman hit 9-of-17 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free throw line for her 24 points. Schaefer just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds, and Juaneice Jackson registered eight points, four assists and four rebounds.

Micah Pollard tallied seven points in 11 minutes off the bench, and Dariyan Morris and Darian Patton had five points apiece.

The Lady Lancers will take two weeks off to prepare for the NCCAA National Championships. Grace will host Oakland City on March 13 in an NCCAA Regional contest at the MOCC.

Gabby Bryant prepares to shoot for the Lancers versus Marian Tuesday night.