NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Manchester women's basketball team dropped a close conference matchup to the visiting Rose-Hulman Fightin' Engineers by a final score of 60-55 on Wednesday, January 24. 

The Spartans and Fightin' Engineers saw 12 lead changes and eight ties as the two teams battled back-and-forth during Wednesday night's contest. Rose-Hulman took a seven-point lead, their largest of the game, with 4:51 on the clock in the first quarter. The Black and Gold went on a 7-0 run to tie the score at 11-11, but the Fightin' Engineers would take a three-point advantage entering the second quarter. After being down 30-29 with one second remaining in the first half, first-year Aaliyah Bonner (Goshen, Ind., Northwood) made two free-throws to tie the score at 30-30 going into halftime.

During the second half, Manchester was able to narrowly outscore Rose-Hulman 15-14 to take a one-point lead entering the final quarter of action at 45-44. Manchester would open the fourth quarter with a three-point shot in the opening possession to take a 48-44 lead. Rose-Hulman would answer with a 9-2 run to retake the lead with 5:20 left on the clock. The Fightin' Engineers would rely on free throws to secure the 60-55 victory.

Three Spartans scored in double-digits, including Hailee Kline (Huntington, Ind., Blackhawk Christian), Madison Stamm (Fortville, Ind., Anderson Prep), and Abigail Rosenkrans (Pendleton, Ind., Pendleton Heights) with 10 points each. Maddi Smith (Kewanna, Ind., Caston) led the Black and Gold with nine rebounds. Aaliyah Bonner added seven rebounds, while Mia Shields (Arcadia, Ind., Hamilton Heights) and Alyssa Pfeil (Goshen, Ind., Concord Community) had two steals apiece. 

Up next, Manchester women's basketball will host Earlham College in Stauffer-Wolfe Arena during Senior Day on Saturday, January 27.