HANOVER, Ind. – Hanover (6-2 overall, 3-0 HCAC) finished with three athletes in double-digits as they knocked off Defiance in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon, 68-54.
 
Junior Reese Sexton (Louisville, Ky.) paced the Panthers with a team-high 12 points, while teammates senior Callie Wilder (North Vernon, Ind.) netted 11 points and junior Taylor Heath (Fairland, Ind.) 10 points.
 
The opening frame saw Hanover use a 5-0 run led by junior Maddi Sears (Carmel, Ind.) to surge ahead 13-5. They carried the momentum into the second stanza as senior Anna Bauer (Indianapolis, Ind.) hit a runner in the lane before a pair of Sexton free throws extended the difference to 21-11.
 
The Blue and Red strung together their best scoring run with just over three minutes to play in the second quarter entering the intermission leading 29-19 after a Wilder free throw.
 
The second half would see Defiance make a push cutting the deficit to as little as 36-31 when junior Skylar Sahatjian (Prospect, Ky.) halted the charge. Wilder pushed the lead back to double figures sending Hanover into the fourth quarter with the 48-34 advantage.
 
The final period saw an even contest, both team's netting 20 points, but the deficit was too great for the Yellow Jackets as Hanover secured the HCAC home victory.
 
Hanover returns to action on Monday, Dec. 19 when they travel to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. taking on Loras College. Tip-off is set for 2:00 PM.