ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Panthers (2-4 overall, 1-0 HCAC) staged a second half comeback against DePauw that fell short on Saturday afternoon, dropping the non-conference contest 76-68.
 
Junior Grace Bezold (Covington, Ky.) dominated the offensive side of the floor netting a game-high 31 points with nine rebounds, earning her All-Tournament honors. Her 31 point performance brings her career point total to 799. Junior Katherine Benter (Brownstown, Ind.) added 10 points with six rebounds.
 
The combination of Benter and Bezold paid dividends early as the duo was able to give HC the slim 7-5 advantage. The Panthers continued to battle as Bezold hit a turnaround jumper at the 2:07 mark knotting the score at 11-11. However, DePauw used a three-pointer with 30 seconds remaining to close out the period with the slim 18-15 lead.
 
Bezold was the force in the paint Hanover needed as she hit a layup that pulled the Panthers back within one. The Tigers refused to be tamed extending the lead to 25-19 forcing a Blue and Red timeout. DePauw claimed the double-digit lead at the 1:55 point before entering the half with the 39-26 advantage.
 
The Panthers brought the pressure in the third frame as Bezold netted five straight points to pull HC within 39-31. The offensive explosion ensued as the Panthers were able to flip the script with 1:44 left in the frame following a freshman Reagan Martin (Spencer, Ind.) three-pointer off a senior Taylor Heath (Fairland, Ind.) helper, 46-45. But the excitement didn't last long with DePauw sinking a pair of free throws that propelled them into the final frame leading 52-48.
 
The final frame continued to be a back-and-forth with Hanover cutting the difference to 54-52 following a Bezold offensive explosion. But the Tigers refused to roll over attacking the hoop claiming the 64-57 lead with 3:51 to play. Benter drained a three-pointer at the 2:34 point before Bezold hit a layup in the lane that saw HC come within 70-65. However, the surge wasn't enough as DePauw displayed success at the free throw line claiming the 76-68 victory.
 
Hanover returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 9 when they welcome Defiance to Collier Arena. Tip-off is slated for 2:00 PM.