CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Hanover women's basketball team advanced to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship for the second consecutive season after defeating Mount St. Joseph on Saturday evening, 66-60.
 
Hanover saw three players finish in double figures paced by senior Savannah Courtney (Lawrenceburg, Ky.) with 13 points and eight rebounds. Teammates, freshman Maddi Sears (Carmel, Ind.) chipped in 11 points while sophomore Keaton Chastain (Paoli, Ind.) added 10 points.
 
Hanover surged ahead early in the first quarter as Courtney paced a 7-0 run over a four-minute span. But Mount St. Joseph responded as they were able to take the lead with 1:56 remaining following a jumper in the lane that gave them the 10-7 advantage. Hanover battled tough cutting the lead to one as a junior Lanette Blume (St. Anthony, Ind.) jumper as time expired saw Hanover enter the second quarter trailing 12-11.
 
The second stanza opened as a back-and-forth battle when Chastain delivered the offense helping to propel the Panthers to the 23-18 lead with 1:59 to play. However, MSJ continued to hang around as a three-pointer in the final seconds pulled them within 25-21 at the break.
 
The Lions pounced quick in the second half as they were able to pull within 25-23 when a junior Lexi Riggles (Danville, Ind.) three-pointer halted the charge. They tied the contest minutes later off a pair of free throws, but the excitement wouldn't last long as a Sears jumper followed by a Courtney steal and score sent the Panthers back in front 37-34. Hanover carried the momentum late into the period as they entered the final stanza with the 49-40 advantage.
 
The last period saw the Panthers secure the victory at the free throw line as Sears connected for a pair of freebies with just under 15 seconds to play to send Hanover back to the HCAC Tournament Championship.