HUNTINGTON – Grace’s women’s basketball team picked up its first league victory, beating Huntington 61-55 on the road.

The Lady Lancers (6-19, 1-12 Crossroads League) snapped a 12-game losing streak thanks to a stellar defensive performance. Grace held the Foresters (15-10, 5-8 CL) to 38 percent shooting for the game, including 5-of-20 from beyond the arc.

Gabby Miller led Grace with 16 points and made several late key plays to secure the win.

Grace’s defense was sharp from the tipoff on Wednesday. Kelsie Peterson scored on Grace’s first possession, and the Lady Lancers held the Foresters to just three points over the first 5:30. Grace led by as many as 10 points in the first quarter, ending the period with a 23-15 advantage. The Lady Lancers drilled 9-of-12 from the floor in the quarter and swished all three free throws.

Huntington rallied in the second quarter and managed to tie the game. But Grace ended the half with a short spurt and went into halftime with a 36-32 lead.

In the third quarter, Grace’s defense was almost impenetrable. Huntington produced just two points over the first 8:45 of the period. As a result, Grace used an 11-0 run to open up a double-digit lead. Grace’s fullcourt defense gave the Foresters fits, and the Lady Lancers grabbed their largest lead of the night at 47-34.

But Huntington was not prepared to fade. The Foresters used an 11-2 run to pull back within striking distance. Huntington eventually trimmed Grace’s lead down to four with less than three minutes to play.

Miller responded with a deep 3-pointer to swing momentum back to the Lady Lancers. She also grabbed an offensive rebound on Grace’s next possession and drew a foul with 1:02 remaining, swishing both attempts to put Grace ahead by seven.

Huntington again showed plenty of fight and cut Grace’s lead down to four with 27 seconds remaining. The Foresters had a chance to make it a one-possession game, but Haley Richardson came up with a clutch steal and was fouled. She proceeded to sink a pair of foul shots with 10 seconds remaining to ice the victory.

Miller’s team-best 16 points came with two 3-pointers, three rebounds and two assists. Peterson produced 14 points, and Sarah Feasby added 11 points and six rebounds on 5-of-6 shooting.

Richardson tallied eight points and eight boards, and Jesse Feitz chipped in six points and four boards.

The Lady Lancers held a plus-8 advantage in rebounding, and Grace also took eight more foul shots than Huntington.

Grace will look to start a winning streak on Saturday with a home game against Spring Arbor at 1 p.m.