DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Hanover Panthers (12-5 overall, 11-1 HCAC) combated the swarming Yellow Jackets to secure the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory on the road, 67-55.
 
The Blue and Red used a team effort with four landing in double figures. Leading the attack was sophomore Kady Clancy (Scottsburg, Ind.)  with a game-high 17 points while sophomore Katherine Benter (Brownstown, Ind.) added 16 points and nine rebounds. Teammates, junior Taylor Heath (Fairland, Ind.) netted 13 points and sophomore Grace Bezold (Covington, Ky.) added 11 points.
 
The two teams found themselves locked in a battle for much of the first half as Hanover pushed ahead 15-8 following a junior Reese Sexton (Louisville, Ky.) layup. However, Defiance netted the final blow of the first quarter capping a 6-0 run that saw them pull within 15-14.
 
The second frame saw DC claim their first lead of the contest 20-17 when Clancy halted the momentum. The Panthers stampeded with Benter and Heath netting back-to-back blows, 24-21. Benter continued to have the hot hand as she hit a three-pointer that helped propel Hanover into the intermission leading 30-25.
 
The Hanover offense erupted in the second half with Clancy and Bezold pacing the way en route to the 46-38 advantage. But the Yellow Jackets continued to swarm cutting the difference to 56-55 with just 3:31 to play.
 
The Panthers remained poise and used a late game explosion led by Bezold to blow the game wide open. Hanover secured the double digit win at the free throw line, outscoring Defiance 19-13 in the final frame.
 
Hanover returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 1 when they travel to Anderson. Game time is set for 7:00 PM.