NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – A personal career single-game scoring best nearly led Manchester University to a third straight victory Wednesday, Jan. 25.

Senior guard Jenifer Lee (Rockville, Ind.) recorded her ninth double-digit point game of the season and second straight behind nine-of-15 field goal shooting which included three three-point buckets as part of a 23-point finish against Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opponent Franklin College. Even with that and a third successive double-figure scoring effort from sophomore guard Faith-Alexis Graham (Indianapolis, Ind.) (11 points), the host Spartans were held off by the Grizzlies 66-62.

Lee opened the game quickly just like her Black and Gold teammates. She drained a three-pointer on the home team's first possession, much to the delight of the crowd inside Stauffer-Wolfe Arena, as part of a 17-6 stretch. Franklin responded with 14 of the next 16 points and the game remained back and forth all the way down to the end. MU, falling to 6-12 overall and 5-6 in the conference, had the ball trailing by only two in the final minute but a turnover and two FC free throws salted the decision away.

Graham added seven rebounds and a blocked shot to her scoring total. The freshman guard duo of Hannah Newby (Danville, Ind.) and Haley Farris (Sharpsville, Ind.) dished out three assists each, and sophomore center Maddy Minehart picked off a team-best three steals.

The Spartans go on the road Saturday, Jan. 28, for a doubleheader with the Manchester University men's squad. Game times are 3 and 5 p.m.