WINONA LAKE, Ind. – After a tough loss in the first round of the NCCAA National Championship on Wednesday, the CIU women's basketball team continued to play in the consolation bracket. CIU (15-17) took on host school and fellow NAIA program Grace College (13-17) in a morning game on Thursday. While CIU shot better from the field than the previous day, the Rams still could not overcome the Lancers falling 84-58.

How It Happened: The Rams led early over the Lancers asTiona Walls put CIU up 8-7 midway through the first quarter. The aLncers pulled ahead, but CIU kept pace, only trailing 17-13 after one. The second period turned the tide of the contest as the Rams were outscored 26-13 in the quarter. CIU cut the lead to 31-20 on a Britney Brown 3-pointer during the quarter, but CIU was then put on the receiving end of 15-6 run as the Lancers snagged a 43-26 halftime lead. CIU got a boost from its bench in the third quarter with points recorded by Brown, Kiara Austin, and Justice Mazyck but the Rams still lagged behind 67-45 heading into the final period. The game was bookended by another 17-13 quarter as the Lancers outscored the Rams by four. CIU trimmed the deficit to 73-53 on a transition 3-pointer from Brown, but CIU ultimately yielded to Grace 84-58.

Game Notes:

• Tiona Walls led the Rams in scoring with 12 points going 5-6 from the field.
• Britney Brown was a spark off the bench scoring 10 points on 2-3 shooting from deep.
• Zion Neat scored 11 points, while Hannah Trawick was a force inside with 13 rebounds and six points.
• CIU's bench outscored Grace's bench 22-14 while the Rams forced 20 Lancer turnovers.

Up Next:

CIU will take on Carolina University for the third time this season in the 7th place game on Friday at 1:00 PM.