BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Manchester University women's basketball team dropped a road Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) contest at Bluffton University by a final score of 63-48 on Wednesday, December 6.

The Spartans were limited to 6-25 shooting (24%) in the first two quarters of Wednesday night's contest as the Beavers took a 26-15 lead at the half. Manchester battled back, cutting Bluffton's lead to just four with less than a minute on the clock in the third quarter. The Beavers would outlast the Spartans for a 63-48 victory. 

Bluffton shot 37% on the night with 42 rebounds and eight steals. Olivia Zender led the Beavers with 17 points, followed by Katie Neuhart with 16 points, and Rachel Clark with 10 points. Bluffton is now 2-4 overall and 1-1 in conference play. 

As a team, the Spartans shot 36% from the floor and pulled down 29 rebounds with nine steals. Maddi Smith (Kewanna, Ind., Caston) led the Black and Gold with 17 points and eight rebounds. Hailee Kline (Huntington, Ind., Blackhawk Christian) added 13 points, while Madison Stamm (Fortville, Ind., Anderson Prep) and Kendal Rider (Otterbein, Ind., Lafayette Central Catholic) chipped in six points apiece. Kline, Stamm, and Rider each also had two steals apiece on Wednesday night.

Manchester women's basketball will host nationally ranked Transylvania University on Saturday, December 9 for another HCAC matchup. Game time between the Spartans and Pioneers is set for 1:00 p.m. in Stauffer-Wolfe Arena.