North Manchester, Ind. - Manchester dropped an 88-77 HCAC decision to Franklin on Wednesday night at Stauffer-Wolfe Arena. The Spartans came out sharp offensively and led 23-17 after the first quarter, but Franklin answered with a 28-point second quarter to take a 45-40 halftime edge and never fully let Manchester back in front.

Abi Rosenkrans paced Manchester with 16 points, while Clair Klinger provided a big spark off the bench with 15 points on three triples. Kinsey Atkins added 13 points (3-for-8 from deep) and Hailee Kline chipped in eight as Manchester finished 10-for-27 from three and got 41 points from its bench.

The game tightened in the third quarter as Manchester trimmed the deficit to 64-61, highlighted by Rosenkrans scoring 11 points in the period and a key three that pulled the Spartans within one (50-49) with 7:00 left in the quarter. Franklin responded each time, then took control early in the fourth with a fast-break push and a string of steals and transition chances, stretching the margin to 72-61 with 6:29 remaining.

Manchester forced 13 turnovers and came away with 10 steals, but Franklin made the difference in turning miscues into points (21 points off turnovers) and in transition (20 fast-break points). Franklin also lived at the line late, going 16-for-19 overall, and closed the night by outscoring Manchester 24-16 in the final quarter.