NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Hanover women's basketball team used a series of runs to defeat Manchester on Thursday afternoon, 68-64.
 
Hanover was led in the contest by senior Savannah Courtney (Lawrenceburg, Ky. / Franklin County) with a game-high 21 points and four steals. She also tallied eight rebounds, while shooting 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Joining her in double figures was junior Liz Tynan (Columbus, Ind. / Columbus North) with 12 points and freshman Addie Gardner (Anderson, Ind. / Frankton) with 10 points.
 
The opening quarter saw the Panthers trail early when a junior Lexi Riggles (Danville, Ind. / Danville Community) three-pointer at the 6:39 mark gave Hanover their first lead of the afternoon. However, the quick start for the Spartans continued as they connected on back-to-back scores to push the advantage to 12-7.
 
With just under five minutes remaining in the opening stanza, the Blue and Red shot their way back into the contest pulling within 14-13 after freshman Skylar Sahatjian (Prospect, Ky. / South Oldham) sank a pair of jumpers. Hanover closed out the period with the slight 17-16 advantage as Tynan dealt clutch down the stretch.
 
Manchester opened the second quarter with a short run that saw a three-pointer at the 6:56 mark propel the Spartans back in front 20-17. But moments later, following a Hanover timeout, Riggles provided a three-pointer that would tie the game.
 
Her success from three-point land continued as she connected for her third of the first half sparking a Panther 10-0 run that saw them garner the 32-24 advantage with 1:33 remaining. Junior Lanette Blume (St. Anthony, Ind. / Forest Park) closed out the half for Hanover with a deep ball of her own to put the Blue and Red on top, 35-29.
 
Manchester manufactured a run to open the second half as a 9-0 explosion capped off by a layup in the lane put the Spartans in front 38-37. But the Panthers refused to go away as a Hanover hot streak paced by sophomore Anna Bauer (Indianapolis, Ind. / Roncalli) propelled them to the 46-40 advantage with just over four minutes to play.  The final minutes of the third period were a back-and-forth battle with both teams exchanging scores before a Tynan jumper as time expired extended the Hanover difference to 55-49.
 
The final stanza would see the Spartans lock the game at 55-55 before a layup at the 6:27 mark by Gardner ended the Hanover scoreless drought. The Panthers attempted to pull away but the deep ball for Manchester deemed effective as they were once again able to gain the lead. But a game full of runs would see Hanover make the final push of the afternoon at the 3:16 mark with back-to-back scores by Gardner that would go on to seal the 68-64 victory.
 
The Panthers return to action on Saturday, January 16, at 2:00 PM when they welcome the Spartans to Collier Arena.