HANOVER, Ind. – The Panthers (15-7 overall, 14-3 HCAC) gave no. 2 ranked Transylvania all they could handle on Tuesday evening in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action, dropping the competitive battle, 73-56.
 
Leading the offensive attack for the Panthers was sophomore Grace Bezold (Covington, Ky.) with a team best 23 points. Senior Callie Wilder (North Vernon, Ind.) added 10 points.
 
The Panther offense suffered some early shooting woes when Wilder and Bezold netted back-to-back blows. Bezold followed it up with a three-pointer from the top of the key that saw HC pull within 16-13.
 
Hanover cranked up the defensive pressure using it to fuel their offense cutting the difference to 25-19 off a sophomore Kady Clancy (Scottsburg, Ind.) runner in the lane. With 6:35 remaining in the opening half, junior Addie Gardner (Anderson, Ind.) made her way to the free throw line sinking a pair of helpers. 
 
The excitement continued inside Collier Arena as Bezold netted a jumper from the corner before Clancy was able to draw a shooting foul that pulled the Blue and Red within 33-26.  Bezold handled the rest netting 13 first half points to help propel the Blue and Red into the intermission trailing just 37-30.
 
Transylvania looked to steal the thunder in the second half but the Panthers refused to surrender as junior Taylor Heath (Fairland, Ind.) displayed success going coast-to-coast. Wilder kept the momentum alive as she hit a jumper before a sophomore Katherine Benter (Brownstown, Ind.) rebound and put-back sparked a small Panther run.
 
The final frame saw Bezold continue to dominate as she showed off her range from deep. The Panther fourth quarter rally ensued with Wilder erupting the building at the 4:44 mark, 63-55. Hanover had nationally ranked Transylvania on the ropes late into the frame but ultimately were unable to hang on as the Pioneers captured the HCAC victory.
 
Hanover returns to action on Friday, Feb. 17 when they wrap up the regular season at Mount St. Joseph. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM.