Manchester Setting Early Pace in Women’s Hoops
December 14, 2007
GREENWOOD , IN – Three teams entered last week’s HCAC action unbeaten in conference play, but only one remained unblemished after an exciting week of action. Manchester stands 2-0 in HCAC action after recording wins over Mount St. Joseph and Transylvania. The conference portion of the schedule will resume on January 5.
The Spartans (5-2, 2-0 HCAC) have won three straight games, including a 63-55 victory over Transylvania last weekend. Sophomore guard Rachel Wilkinson (Walkerton, Ind./John Glenn) scored 17 points and junior forward Kelley Meiklejohn (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Carroll) added 17 points and seven rebounds in the win over the Pioneers. Meiklejohn leads the team and ranks third in the conference with 14.3 points per game this season. Manchester will travel to Carthage December 16 before returning home to face Illinois Wesleyan on December 18.
Hanover (4-2, 2-1 HCAC) is off to a great start and has won four of their past five contests. The Panthers earned a 77-64 win over Defiance last week. Freshman forward Torin Franz (Bloomington, Ind./South) led the scoring effort with 16 points against the Jackets. Freshman center Molly Martin (Terre Haute, Ind./ North Vigo) recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Martin leads the team with 14.2 points per game and 9.8 rebounds per game. Her 9.8 rebounds are tied with teammate Rachel Walters (Ladoga, Ind./Southmont) for the conference lead. Hanover will take on Spalding Saturday night and then take on either Indiana-Southeast or Denison Sunday afternoon.
Rose-Hulman (3-4, 2-1 HCAC) dropped two games this past week, falling to Bluffton 57-45 and Robert Morris-Springfield 69-40. Freshman center Donna Marsh (Mobile, Ala./Baker) scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss to Bluffton. Junior forward Liz Ridgway (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) scored 12 points to lead the Engineers in the loss to Robert Morris. As a team, RHIT ranks first in the conference in scoring defense (51.4 ppg) and field goal percentage defense (31.1%). Rose will return to action December 18 at Marian (Ind.).
Franklin (4-3, 1-1 HCAC) claimed an 83-71 win over North Central ( Ill.) in its only contest last week. Senior guard Courtney Swain (Zionsville, Ind./H.S.) led four Grizzlies in double figures with 20 points and seven assists. This season, sophomore center Heather Harper (Mooresville, Ind./H.S.) leads the team in scoring with 13.0 points per game. FC will welcome Centre to town on December 15 before traveling to Louisville to take on Spalding December 17.
Transylvania dropped its only game last week, losing at Manchester 63-55. Senior forward Jessica Gilbert (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) led the scoring effort with 13 points and six rebounds. Sophomore guard Brittany Henderlight (Versailles, Ky./Woodford Co.) leads the team in scoring with 13.0 points per game this year. Transy will travel to take on Maryville (Ten.) December 15 and Centre on December 17.
Anderson (4-4, 1-2 HCAC) lost a close battle to Mount St. Joseph 74-72 last Saturday and earned a 71-67 non-conference win over Elmhurst this past Tuesday. Junior forward Kayla Martin (Bedford, Ind./ Bedford North Lawrence) led the Ravens with 20 points and 14 rebounds in the win over Elmhurst. The junior forward has led the team in scoring in all four AU wins and is averaging a team-high 12.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game this season. Freshman guard Lauren Leisure (Frankton, Ind./H.S.) scored 17 points to lead Anderson’s effort in the loss to MSJ. The Ravens will welcome Earlham to town December 15.
Bluffton (4-4, 1-2 HCAC) won its only game last week, claming a 57-45 win over Rose-Hulman. Senior guard Angie Lee (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio/Vanlue) scored 13 points to lead the Beavers’ scoring. Lee is averaging a conference-best 15.1 points per game this season. Bluffton will face Oberlin tonight at home and then travel to Ursuline on December 17.
Defiance (2-3, 1-2 HCAC) fell on the road at Hanover last weekend 77-64. Sophomore center Amber Bailey (Goodells, Mich.) scored 16 points and posted 15 rebounds in the loss to the Panthers. Sophomore forward Mandy White (Ottawa, Ohio/Ottawa-Glandorf) scored 16 points in the loss. White leads DC with 13.0 points per game this season. As a team, the Jackets lead the HCAC with 68.8 points per game. Defiance will take on Marygrove at home tonight and then face either Marian or Milligan Saturday afternoon. The Yellow Jackets third game of the week will be played at home against Wilberforce on December 17.
Mount St. Joseph (2-5, 1-2 HCAC) claimed a big win over Anderson 74-72 last weekend. Senior forward Ashleigh Stallkamp (Paulding, Ohio/H.S.) scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds in the win over the Ravens. Stallkamp ranks second in the HCAC with 15.0 points per game. MSJ shot 54.9% from the field in the win against Anderson, raising their conference-best shooting percentage to 43.3%. The Lions will travel to rival Thomas More December 15 before heading down to the Virgin Islands December 17 and 18. The Mount will face Southwestern College (KS) in game one, before tangling with Savannah Art & Design.
Women’s Basketball Schedule (Dec. 14 -Dec. 20)
Dec. 14 |
Oberlin at Bluffton |
8:00 PM |
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Marygrove at Defiance |
8:00 PM |
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Dec. 15 |
Marian or Milligan at Defiance |
TBA |
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Mount St. Joseph at Thomas More |
3:00 PM |
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Earlham at Anderson |
3:00 PM |
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Transylvania at Maryville (TN) |
4:00 PM |
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Centre at Franklin |
5:00 PM |
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Spalding at Hanover |
6:00 PM |
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Dec. 16 |
Indiana-Southeast or Denison at Hanover |
TBA |
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Manchester at Carthage |
3:00 PM |
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Dec. 17 |
Southwestern College (KS) vs. Mount St. Joseph (at Virgin Islands) |
5:00 PM |
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Franklin at Spalding |
6:00 PM |
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Transylvania at Centre |
7:00 PM |
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Bluffton at Ursuline |
7:00 PM |
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Wilberforce at Defiance |
7:30 PM |
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Dec. 18 |
Illinois Wesleyan at Manchester |
5:00 PM |
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Savannah Art & Design vs. Mount St. Joseph (at Virgin Islands) |
5:00 PM |
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Rose-Hulman at Marian (Ind.) |
7:30 PM |