Spartans Look to Distance Lead in Women’s Basketball Race
January 11, 2008
GREENWOOD , IN – The Manchester College women’s basketball team currently holds a slight advantage over Transylvania in the chase for the conference crown and will look to distance their lead a little more this weekend. The Spartans (9-4, 4-0 HCAC) stand unbeaten in four conference games and will look for two more wins against Anderson and Rose-Hulman this week.
Manchester enters the week riding a three game win streak after recording two conference wins this past week. MC earned a 70-59 road win against Franklin and defeated Bluffton at home 61-58. December women’s Player of the Month Kelley Meiklejohn (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Carroll) scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the win against the Grizzlies. The junior forward is averaging 14.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game to lead the Spartans this season. Senior guard Sarah Conwell (Kokomo, Ind./Northwestern) was the leading scorer in the win over Bluffton, netting 14 points to lead the way to victory. The black and gold will travel to Rose-Hulman on Saturday afternoon and will return home for a game with Anderson next Wednesday night.
Transylvania (7-6, 3-1 HCAC) pulled out a couple wins over the week and has now posted victories in three of their past four ballgames. The Pioneers beat Rose-Hulman 56-45 at home and pulled out a close win at Franklin 70-67. Junior guard Jackie Distler (Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart) scored 12 points in the win over the Engineers and sophomore guard Brittany Henderlight (Versailles, Ky./Woodford Co.) added 17 points in the win at Franklin. Henderlight leads Transy in the scoring column with 14.2 points per game. TU will entertain Defiance at the Beck Center Saturday afternoon before traveling to Hanover January 16.
Anderson (7-5, 3-2 HCAC) made a quick trip up the standings with two wins over Bluffton and Hanover. The Ravens earned both wins at home, knocking off the Beavers 66-55 and Hanover 71-66 in overtime. AU has won four of their past five games to climb into the third spot of the conference standings. Junior forward Kayla Martin (Bedford, Ind./ Bedford North Lawrence) scored 24 points and added six rebounds in the overtime win against Hanover. Martin leads Anderson with 13.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Junior forward Mel Hawthorne (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) scored 12 points to lead the effort against Bluffton. The Ravens will look to hold their spot in the standings this week as Franklin comes to town Saturday. Manchester will welcome AU for a game January 16.
Rose-Hulman (5-7, 3-2 HCAC) split a pair of games over the week to hold a third place tie with Anderson. The Engineers lost at Transylvania 56-45 to begin the week and earned a 54-42 win at home against Mount St. Joseph Wednesday night. Freshman center Donna Marsh (Mobile, Ala./Baker) posted two double-doubles on the week. The freshman scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the loss to Transy and turned in 11 points and 10 rebounds in the win over the Lions. Marsh ranks third in the HCAC with 8.8 rebounds per game this season. As a team, RHIT leads the conference in scoring defense (52.4 ppg), field goal percentage defense (32.4%), rebound margin (+8.0), and blocks per game (4.5). Rose will welcome conference leader Manchester to Terre Haute Saturday before two home non-conference games with St. Mary-of-the-Woods and Robert Morris-Springfield.
Hanover (8-5, 2-2 HCAC) lost to Anderson in overtime 71-66 in their lone game last week. The Panthers have dropped three of their last four games and will search for a couple conference wins against Bluffton and Transylvania this week. Freshman center Molly Martin (Terre Haute, Ind./ North Vigo) continues to impress in her first season as a collegiate athlete. The conference player of the year candidate compiled 26 points and 21 rebounds in the overtime loss to Anderson. The freshman standout leads the conference in both scoring and rebounding, averaging a double-double with 15.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. As a team, the Panthers lead the HCAC with a 40.7% field goal percentage.
Mount St. Joseph (3-9, 2-3 HCAC) split a pair of games over the week, but has lost four of their past five. The Lions beat Defiance 69-58 and proceeded to drop a road contest against Rose-Hulman 54-42. Freshman guard Kat O’Neill (Burlington, Ky./Conner) scored 12 points in the win over the Jackets and senior forward Ashleigh Stallkamp (Paulding, Ohio/H.S.) netted 21 points in the loss to Rose. The senior leads the Mount in scoring with 13.7 points per game. MSJ will look for their first road win of the season in a non-conference tilt with Spalding Saturday afternoon. The Lions will return home January 16 for a game against Bluffton.
Defiance (5-6, 1-3 HCAC) fell to 0-4 on the road this season after losing at the Mount 69-58. Sophomore center Amber Bailey (Goodells, Mich./ Memphis) earned Player of the Week honors after her 15 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks in the loss to the Lions. As a team, the Yellow Jackets lead the HCAC in scoring offense (73.6 ppg) and rebounding (45.4 rpg). DC will have two chances this week to record their first road win of the season. The Jackets travel to Transylvania Saturday and will face Franklin at the Spurlock Center January 16.
Franklin (4-8, 1-3 HCAC) has dropped five straight games after losing to Manchester and Transylvania at home last week. The Grizzlies fell to the Spartans 70-59 last Saturday and dropped a close 70-67 decision against the Pioneers on Wednesday night. Sophomore center Heather Harper (Mooresville, Ind./H.S.) scored 14 points against Manchester and added an 18 point effort against Transy. Harper ranks third in the conference with 14.7 points per game and ranks second on the Grizzlies with 5.8 rebounds per game. FC will look to snap their five game skid Saturday afternoon at Anderson or at home against Defiance next Wednesday.
Bluffton (6-7, 1-4 HCAC) fell on the road twice last week and has now lost three straight since recording three wins in a row. The Beavers lost at Anderson 66-55 and fell in a close game at Manchester 61-58 Wednesday night. Senior guard Angie Lee (Mt. Blanchard, Ohio/Vanlue) scored 16 points in the loss to Anderson and currently ranks second in the league with a scoring average of 14.8 points per game. Senior guard Amanda Bell (Napoleon, Ohio/ Liberty Center) added a 19 point effort against the Spartans. The Beavers lead the conference in steals per game (10.0 pg) and three-point field goals made (5.31 pg) this season. BU will welcome Hanover to town Saturday before traveling to Mount St. Joseph next week.
Women’s Basketball Schedule (Jan. 11 -Jan. 17)
Jan. 12 |
Defiance at Transylvania |
1:00 PM |
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Manchester at Rose-Hulman |
3:00 PM |
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Franklin at Anderson |
3:00 PM |
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Hanover at Bluffton |
3:00 PM |
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Mount St. Joseph at Spalding |
3:00 PM |
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Jan. 14 |
St. Mary-of-the-Woods at Rose-Hulman |
7:30 PM |
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Jan. 15 |
Robert Morris-Springfield at Rose-Hulman |
6:00 PM |
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Jan. 16 |
Transylvania at Hanover |
7:30 PM |
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Anderson at Manchester |
7:30 PM |
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Bluffton at Mount St. Joseph |
7:30 PM |
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Defiance at Franklin |
7:30 PM |