Hanover College took an early lead and outlasted the Anderson University women's basketball team with a 65-63 victory during Wednesday's Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) matchup in Hanover.
The Panthers (9-6, 8-1) took a 15-2 lead to start the game, which included seven points off turnovers. Anderson (6-10, 2-7) rallied back and tied the game in the fourth quarter. Jade Shipley knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Ravens a 57-56 lead. Kristin Dubois added a bucket to put the Ravens up by three.
The Panthers scored on consecutive possessions to take a 60-59 lead. Payton Moore responded with a layup to put the Ravens up by one. Katie Hartman drained a critical 3-pointer for Hanover to give the Panthers a 63-61 lead. On the next possession, Shipley knocked down a jumper to knot the game at 63-all with 43 seconds remaining. Savannah Courtney made the go-ahead layup on an assist from Alexis Nall. Hanover halted Anderson on the final possession to secure the win.
"This was a heart-breaking loss, but I could not be more proud of our team and the toughness they showed [on Wednesday]," Coach Lindsay Shade said. "We were bothered by their pressure early and let them jump out to a 15-2 lead. In the past that would have turned into a 30-point loss, but we kept our composure, battled back and for three quarters we controlled the tempo and looked like a really good basketball team."
The Ravens committed 19 turnovers while the Panthers turned the ball over nine times. Hanover outscored Anderson 24-11 off turnovers. The Panthers also held a 4-0 advantage in fast-break points.
"Hanover's game plan was to speed us up to force turnovers and quick shots. Once we settled down, our guards did a great job of managing pressure and getting us into half-court offense. Hannah Hawkins and Payton Moore continue to bring such toughness on the back line of our defense."
Hawkins led the Ravens with 17 points. The 6-foot-2 junior center from Fairmount also pulled down eight rebounds and converted 6-of-8 (75 percent) shots from the field.
Shipley recorded a career-high 16 points.
Moore notched nine points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. Dubois contributed seven points, four steals and four assists. Carly Hackler provided six points. Hanna Ault and Cassie Pallett rounded out Anderson's scoring with four points each. Allie Owens also dished out four assists.
Nall paced Hanover with 20 points. Hartman turned in 14 points. Brooke Todd produced 11 points and seven assists. Courtney collected eight rebounds and Kristin Mills added five assists.
Hanover hit 13-of-16 (81.3 percent) shots from the free-throw line while Anderson made 6-of-10 (60 percent) attempts from the charity stripe.
The Ravens knocked down 25-of-46 (54.3 percent) shots from the field and 7-of-16 (43.8 percent) attempts from 3-point range. Hanover drained 24-of-58 (41.4 percent) attempts from the floor and 4-of-12 (33.3 percent) shots from behind the arc.
Anderson and Hanover both finished tied at 30 rebounds apiece. Despite recording six less offensive rebounds, Anderson outscored Hanover 16-10 on second-chance opportunities.
The Ravens go head-to-head with Transylvania University (15-1, 9-0), ranked No. 8 in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) poll, in an HCAC matchup on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Lexington, Ky.
