MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – Following a strong recent string of play, Grace’s women’s basketball team fell flat 64-54 at Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Wednesday.

The Lady Lancers, winners of three straight and recently making an appearance in the NAIA poll, struggled to hit shots and gave up 21 points in the fourth quarter.

Grace connected on just 31 percent of its field goals, including 5-of-27 (19 percent) in the first half.

The first quarter did not signal the offensive struggles to come for the Lady Lancers (12-11, 7-4 Crossroads League). Grace led 17-14 at quarter’s end. Chloe Pridgen came off the bench to score Grace’s final five points, and Haley Richardson and Kelsie Peterson added four apiece.

In the second quarter, MVNU employed a fullcourt press which gave Grace fits. The Cougars held Grace to just two points in the quarter.

Grace made only 1-of-11 in the quarter and had eight turnovers in the 10-minute period. As a result, MVNU rolled into halftime with a 27-19 lead.

To start the second half, Grace found a spark from the outside. Vironnica Drake and Hannah Adams buried back-to-back 3-pointers over the Cougars’ zone defense.

Grace eventually grabbed a lead at 35-34 on a shot from Adams. But MVNU ended the quarter with a 9-4 spurt to take a four-point lead at 43-39.

The Cougars started the fourth quarter with an and-1 to go ahead by seven, but Grace battled back with six straight points to make the score 46-45.

The game shifted at that point. MVNU found quality shots over the next five minutes, scoring on six of its next seven possessions to run away with the game.

A timeout from Grace head coach Scott Blum did not seem to help as MVNU pulled ahead by 13 with 2:30 remaining, capping off a 12-0 run.

Five late points from Lauren Godfrey made the score closer, but the damage was already done by the Cougars.

MVNU shot 54 percent from the floor in the second half and 47 percent for the game. The Cougars also scored 30 points in the paint.

The Lady Lancers did grab 14 offensive rebounds and scored 20 points off second chances, but poor shooting was too hard to overcome. Grace was just 5-of-23 (22 percent) from beyond the arc.

Drake was the only player for Grace in double figures. She totaled 13 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists.

Darian Patton chipped in 9 points, 5 boards and 4 assists, Godfrey added eight points, and Pridgen scored seven.

Richardson ended with 6 points, 6 boards, 4 assists and 2 steals, Peterson had six points and five rebounds, and Adams tallied 5 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks.

The Lady Lancers will look to bounce back at Goshen on Saturday. The women’s game starts at 3 p.m., and the men’s game tips off at 1 p.m.