SOUTH BEND – A 29-point fourth quarter sparked IU-South Bend to a comeback 73-69 win over Grace College in women’s college basketball action Wednesday night.

The Lady Lancers (1-1) led for much of the game, but the Titans (1-0) outscored Grace by 11 in the final stanza to steal the win.

IU-South Bend’s penetration in the lane gave Grace fits all night. The Titans’ defense was key in the opening quarter, however, as they led 16-8 after one period.

After struggling offensively to start the game, the Lady Lancers quickly hit their stride to start the second. Grace opened the second with 13 unanswered points, including four from Kelsie Peterson.

Grace used that momentum to enter halftime with a 33-26 advantage. In the second quarter, Grace outscored IUSB 25-10.

The Lady Lancers’ pressing attack was troubling to the Titans for much of the game. In the third, Grace built up a 12-point lead with 3:26 left. The Titans made a late push in the quarter but still trailed by seven entering the final period.

It took less than three minutes for IUSB to erase Grace’s cushion in the fourth quarter, sparked by two quick 3-pointers.

Grace clung to a small lead thanks to timely baskets from Pam Miller and Vironnica Drake, but the Titans’ aggressive attack eventually broke down Grace.

IUSB pulled ahead by three with 2:26 on the clock, but Grace refused to surrender without a fight.  Darian Patton   gave Grace a jolt of energy with a pair of 3-pointers in the final two minutes, the last of which put Grace ahead by one with 43 seconds to play.

But the Titans responded with a 3-pointer of their own just 10 seconds later to go up by two. Grace had two shots to tie the game on the next possession but missed on each chance. The Titans then iced the game with two free throws to win by four.

Drake had 16 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals, and Patton added 16 points and four assists. Peterson was Grace’s third player in double-digit scoring, ended in 13 points and seven rebounds; she sank 11-of-12 from the foul stripe.

IUSB junior Paige Avery, a Mishawaka High School product, led all scorers with 20 points. Avery hit a step back 3-pointer with just 34 seconds to play to give the Titans the lead for good at 71-69.

Grace outrebounded IUSB by six in the game and nabbed eight steals, but the Lady Lancers struggled with their shooting touch at 39.7 percent. The Titans hit a sizzling 48 percent from the floor in the second half, including 6-of-8 from beyond the arc.

Grace returns to action next weekend at the Purdue Northwest Classic, playing Robert Morris and No. 13 Purdue Northwest. IUSB (1-0) hosts Great Lakes Christian College on Saturday at 6 p.m.