ncLEXINGTON, Ky. – The Panthers (8-6 overall, 6-1 HCAC) dropped a hard-fought Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup on Wednesday evening at no. 2 ranked Transylvania, 54-39.
 
HCAC Athlete of the Week, junior Katherine Benter (Brownstown, Ind.) led the offense with eight points while senior Taylor Heath (Fairland, Ind.) and junior Grace Bezold (Covington, Ky.) netted seven points apiece.
 
After a slow start to open the contest, Hanover began to settle in offensively. Bezold paced the surge with a layup in the paint before a junior Kady Clancy (Scottsburg, Ind.) runner with 8:24 to play in the second quarter pulled HC within 18-10. However, the Pioneers were able to combat the attack claiming the 29-13 halftime lead.
 
The second half saw Benter deliver big from deep for the Blue and Red as she drained a three-pointer cutting the Transylvania difference to just 31-22. But the Pioneers responded with a 6-0 run that pushed the lead back to double digits.
 
The final period saw Transylvania lead by as many as 48-27 en route to their 54-39 victory. Despite dropping the HCAC battle, Hanover held Transylvania to a season low 54 points.
 
Hanover returns to the hardwood on Saturday, Jan. 13 when they host Bluffton. Game time is set for 2:00 PM.