NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – Manchester University and Hanover College battled one another in a highly competitive, back-and-forth affair inside Stauffer-Wolfe Arena on January 14. Neither side led by more than eight points in Thursday's women's basketball contest. Each time one team made a run, the other answered right back.

Thursday's back-and-forth game saw Hanover College edge the Black & Gold by a final score of 68-64.

Manchester University and Hanover College traded baskets during the game's opening minutes. Macy Miller (Huntertown, Ind./Carroll) scored the first four points for the Black & Gold. Back-to-back layups by freshman Bailey Keim (Denver, Ind./North Miami) gave the Spartans an early 8-4 advantage.

Mid-way through the opening period, a layup by junior Bridget Nash (Carmel, Ind./Bishop Chatard) gave the Spartans their largest lead of the evening of five points, 12-7. Manchester shot 8-15 from the field in the opening 10 minutes.

By the end of first quarter, Hanover managed to convert several possessions on offense and went a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line to hold a one-point lead, 17-16.

Manchester hung right with Hanover in the second quarter. A three-pointer at the 6:56 mark of the period by Hannah Lindsey (Speedway, Ind./Speedway) put MU ahead 20-17. The Black & Gold defense held the Panthers scoreless for the first 4:23 of the second quarter.

Hanover regained the lead in Thursday's contest later in the second quarter following an 8-0 run. Savannah Courtney spearheaded the run for HC, scoring six the Panthers' eight points during the burst.

Hanover led 35-29 at the half.

Momentum continued to swing in favor of the visiting Panthers to start the third quarter. A Savannah Courtney pushed Hanover's lead back up to eight, 37-29, with a layup on the team's first possession.

The Black & Gold would not back down however. The Spartans used a 9-0 run over 3:10 of game clock to retake the lead. Bridget Nash accounted for seven points during the run.

Both teams then continued to trade baskets over the remainder of the period. The visiting Panthers strung together enough stops and scores at the end of the third frame to lead 55-49 heading into the final 10 minutes.

Trailing by just two with under six minutes remaining, junior Miranda Bieghler (Plainfield, Ind./South Putnam) came up with a steal and found Bailey Keim in transition for a go-ahead three-pointer.

Manchester was able to get stops on its next two possessions, but was unable to stretch its lead.

The Panthers went back in front following back-to-back baskets from Savannah Courtney. While the Spartans remained within two possessions throughout the remainder of the contest, MU would not regain the lead.

Bridget Nash led the Black & Gold with 20 points, 18 of which were scored in the second half, on Thursday night. Nash finished 8-12 from the floor and 2-5 from beyond the three-point arc. Bailey Keim filled the stat sheet with 14 points, seven steals, five rebounds, and three assists. Miranda Bieghler added a career-best nine assists and six boards. Tiara Jackson (East Chicago, Ind./Central) grabbed 13 rebounds.

Manchester outrebounded Hanover 44-37 on Thursday night.

The Panthers were led by Savannah Courtney's 21 points and eight rebounds. Liz Tynan score 12 points. Addie Gardner scored 10 points.

The Panthers finished Thursday's game 25-60 (42.6%) from the floor. MU shot 27-64 (42.2%) from the floor.

Hanover forced the Spartans into 27 turnovers. The Panthers scored 26 points off of those turnovers. The Black & Gold scored 21 points off of Hanover's 20 turnovers.

These two teams will play again on Saturday, January 16. Tip-off from Collier Arena on the campus of Hanover is scheduled for 2 p.m.