Juaneice Jackson closed out her career at Grace College Friday. The senior guard finished as the program’s all-time leading scorer (Photo provided by Grace College Sports Information Department)

WINONA LAKE – The Grace College women’s basketball team wrapped up one of its best seasons in program history at the NCCAA National Championships on Friday, falling 73-72 on a late basket to Southern Wesleyan.

The Lady Lancers (17-18) went ahead by one with less than 25 seconds remaining when Allison Kauffman buried a 3-pointer from the corner. But Southern Wesleyan’s Kiara Coleman scored on a rebound putback for what turned out to be the game winner.

After a timeout by head coach Scott Blum, senior Juaneice Jackson let fly a deep 3-pointer from the left wing, but her shot bounced off the back of the rim, inches away from winning the game.

Jackson ends her career as the greatest Lady Lancer in program history. She finished with a program-best 1,893 career points. She racked up 73 wins over her career, crushing the previous four-year record for Grace of 56 wins.

Additionally, Jackson’s 254 assists finished seventh all-time, and her 18.5 points per game as a senior tied for third-best in team history. She also set the program record this year for the most field goals made (249) and attempted (602).

In Friday’s contest, Jackson finished with 18 points with two 3-pointers, and Kauffman led all players with 26 points and 11 rebounds.

Grace never trailed until the final minutes of the seventh-place game against Southern Wesleyan, limiting the Warriors to 23 points on 29-percent in the first half.

The Lady Lancers ballooned their lead to 14 points in the second half with a 46-32 lead with 12:45 remaining. But the Warriors fought back and finally knotted the score at 68-68 on two free throws by Michelle Anaya.

Southern Wesleyan hit a 3-pointer with 2:02 remaining to take its first lead of the game at 71-69, and Kauffman’s late 3-pointer swung the lead back to Grace in dramatic fashion. But after forcing Southern Wesleyan into a missed shot on its final offensive possession, Coleman scored the putback to win the game.

The Lady Lancers finished the Crossroads League season with their best record (12-6) and highest finish (fourth) in program history.