Lions' women's basketball team drops to 2-2 in HCAC play with a 65-61 setback at Manchester College

Host Manchester College jumped out to a 12-point lead at the half, and led by as many as 18 points in the second half, holding off a late Mount rally to post a 65-61 win tonight. The Lions, 2-5 overall, 2-2 in the HCAC, will resume action on Dec. 15 when they play at Bethany (WVA) College.

The Spartans jumped out to a 34-22 lead at the intermission thanks in part to out-shooting the Mount, 48 to 35 percent from the field, and making four-of-seven from three-point range to the Lions' one-of-two from behind the three-point arc. Manchester also convereted eight-of-nine free throw attempts. Carolyn Holt (Cincinnati, OH/Colerain) led the Mount with seven points in the first half while Kat O'Neill (Burlington, KY/Conner) grabbed five rebounds. Manchester was also aided by scoring 12 points off nine Mount miscues while the Lions totaled only four points off of nine Manchester first half turnovers.

Manchester ran off a scoring spree early in the second half and led by double-digits throughout, including holding a 48-30 advantage with 10:20 to play. The Mount improved their shooting accuracy in the second half, and narrowed the gap to one with 1:14 to play, on a lay-up by Shelbi Benzinger (Covington, KY/Scott). Benzinger, stout defense, and solid free throw shooting in the second half enabled the Lions to trail again by just one point, 62-61, with 25 seconds to play - after two free throws by Katie Jo Collins (Cincinnati, OH/Mercy) - but the Lions would get no closer as the Spartans connected on three-of-four free throw attempts in the final 22 seconds.

Benzinger finished with 21 points, on eight-of-16 shooting (including three of eight from three-point range) while Holt had 12 points before fouling out. O'Neill collected eight rebounds. The Mount was four-of-11 from three point while Manchester hit seven-of-16 three point shots.