SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Hanover (8-2 overall) shocked no. 21 UMass Dartmouth on Wednesday evening at the Puerto Rico Classico defeating the Corsairs in dramatic fashion 77-72.
 
Hanover battled the no. 21 team in the country, UMass Dartmouth, from the opening tip, behind some early success by senior Grace Bezold (Covington, Ky.). Bezold was nearly unstoppable finding back-to-back scores for the 10-6 lead. She closed out the period red hot, scoring a game-high 10 first-quarter points.
 
UMass Dartmouth heated up on the offensive side of the floor in the second frame using a 6-0 run to capture the game's first double-digit lead of 35-25 with 5:30 remaining. Sophomore Sammy Berman (Independence, Ky.) ended the Panther scoring drought connecting from long-range pulling Hanover within 38-30. As time winded down into the half, junior Lily Ernstes (North Vernon, Ind.) navigated the pressure with a reverse layup cutting the difference to 44-36.
 
Hanover refused to be denied in the second half staying within shooting distance of UMass Dartmouth. Senior Kady Clancy (Scottsburg, Ind.) hit a jumper before a senior Katherine Benter (Brownstown, Ind.) three-pointer at 3:41 saw the difference at just 53-49. The Blue and Red captured their first lead with 1:09 on the clock as sophomore Ava Sowders (Pekin, Ind.) got to the rim off the dribble drive, 55-53.
 
The Panther defense stepped up in a major way in the final frame forcing UMass Dartmouth to play Hanover basketball. The Blue and Red forced a series of turnovers resulting in a pair of fastbreak opportunities. Junior Alexis Wines (Lebanon, Ind.) was the beneficiary getting to the basket and tying the game 59-59 at the six-minute mark. Bezold displayed success at the free throw line by being physical with her post play and drawing Hanover within 66-64.
 
Benter drained a three-pointer on a cross-court skip pass at 3:03 before drilling a pair of free throws to knot the nail bitter 69-69 with one minute to play. After a costly UMass Dartmouth coaching hiccup Hanover finally claimed the lead off a shooting clinic by Benter. The rest was history with Hanover securing the 77-72 upset.
 
INSIDE THE STATS
Bezold recorded a double-double with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Benter also added a double-double netting 18 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.
 
Berman added 13 points for the Panthers.
 
Hanover returns to action on Friday, December 20 when they take on Stevenson as part of the Puerto Rico Classico. Tip-off is slated for 1:00 PM.