HANOVER, Ind. – Hanover (8-4 overall, 2-3 HCAC) returned from the holiday break on Saturday afternoon taking on the Beavers of Bluffton in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action. Hanover dropped the test 67-61.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Four different Panthers finished in double figures led by freshman Emerson Vlcan with 13 points and nine rebounds.
 
Junior Sammy Berman turned in a big second half, netting a game total of 12 points with four rebounds and two assists.
 
Senior Alexis Wines and senior Lily Ernstes both recorded 10 points apiece.
 
The Panthers struggled from the floor shooting just 38 percent, 14 percent from three-point.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Bluffton led by as many as 19-11 in the first frame using efficient shooting from three-point, 33 percent in the first quarter, to claim the advantage.
 
The Panthers made some second quarter adjustments that saw a Vlcan layup in the paint cut the difference to 23-18. She continued to dominate the lane getting a helper from senior Kaitlyn Lorenzi to pull HC within 23-20. The closest Hanover would come to the lead in the second frame was with 2:30 remaining off a Ernstes layup.
 
The Panthers battled to a tie, 30-30, in the third quarter as Berman began to heat up. Hanover claimed their first lead of the afternoon with 7:53 to play following an Ernstes two-point conversion, 32-30. Sophomore Macy Cline helped guide the Blue and Red to their largest lead to date as she netted back-to-back blows, 43-39.
 
Despite the third quarter success the shooting woes ensued as the Panthers were slightly outscored in the final frame 18-16, falling 67-61.
 
Hanover returns to the hardwood on Wednesday, January 7 when they head to Transylvania. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM.