Box Score HANOVER, Ind. – The Panther defense turned up the intensity on Saturday afternoon defeating Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Manchester 72-47. With the win, Hanover moves to 7-5 overall and 4-3 in the HCAC.
 
The Blue and Red saw three players finish in double figures paced by freshman Grace Bezold (Covington, Ky.) and junior Callie Wilder (North Vernon, Ind.) with 14 points apiece. Freshman Katherine Benter (Brownstown, Ind.) poured in 12 points.
 
The Panther defense deemed the difference in the first half forcing 12 Spartan turnovers. Hanover capitalized on the Manchester miscues as Benter turned a steal into an easy layup at the 1:47 minute mark to propel HC to the 24-12 first quarter lead.
 
The second quarter saw the Blue and Red crank up the intensity with senior Lanette Blume (St. Anthony, Ind.) leading the charge. The senior connected for back-to-back blows after picking up a steal with just 1:04 to play before intermission. Hanover entered the break with their largest lead to date, 42-25.
 
Freshman Taylor Heath (Fairland, Ind.) dominated the opening minutes of the second half hitting a fast break layup in the lane before finding Bezold as part of a Hanover 11-0 run. The Panthers closed out the third quarter leading 59-35.
 
The Blue and Red ran away with the victory, forcing 24 turnovers en route to the 72-47 HCAC win.
 
The Panthers return to action on Wednesday, January 19 when they play host to no. 4 ranked Transylvania. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM.