RICHMOND, Ind. - The Manchester University women's basketball team edged the Earlham College Quakers in Heartland College Athletic Conference (HCAC) action by a final score of 67-63 on Saturday, January 13. 

Earlham opened Saturday's game with a 15-5 lead with 2:34 on the clock in the first quarter. The Spartans closed out the opening quarter on an 8-2 run to cut the Quakers' lead to three. Manchester tied the score at 23 apiece with just under two minutes left to play in the second quarter before taking a 27-26 lead at the half. 

The Spartans used a 46.15% shooting percentage in the third period of Saturday's game to increase their lead by as much as 12 points and outscore the Quakers 20-12 for a 47-38 lead. Earlham would go on a 9-0 run to cut the MU's lead to five with 3:52 on the clock in the fourth quarter. The Spartans and Quakers battle back-and-forth to close out the game, but accurate free throws would put Manchester on top 67-63 to improve to 5-10 overall and 2-6 in HCAC play. 

Three Spartans scored in double digits on Saturday, led by Hailee Kline (Huntington, Ind., Blackhawk Christian) who shot a perfect 10-10 from the free throw line and finished the night with 19 total points. Abigail Rosenkrans (Pendleton, Ind., Pendleton Heights) added 17 points, while Kendal Rider (Otterbein, Ind., Lafayette Central Catholic) chipped in 14 points and six steals for the Black and Gold. Maddi Smith (Kewanna, Ind., Caston) led Manchester with a season-high 13 rebounds. 

Earlham was led by Willow Runyon with 20 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Jay Bright and Abby Parsons with 12 points each. The Quakers are now 3-10 overall and 1-7 in conference play.

Up next, Manchester women's basketball will travel to Rose-Hulman on Wednesday, January 17 before hosting Mount St. Joseph in Stauffer-Wolfe Arena on Saturday, January 20.