Box Score
Visiting Franklin College jumped out to a six-point halftime lead, and withstood a furious Mount second half comeback attempt, to hold off the Lions on Saturday afternoon, 70-62. The Lions, 2-15 overall, 2-8 in the HCAC, will return to action on Jan. 29 when they host Hanover College.
Both team struggled in the first half shooting, with both connecting for under 40 percent field goal shooting in the first 20 minutes of action. The Grizzlies took a 34-28 lead at the intermission thanks in part to making 10-of-14 free throw attempts to the Lions' two-of-six from the charity stripe. Brooke Mosler (Maysville, KY/St. Patrick's) tied the game at 36-all when she converted a lay-up with 17:09 to play in the game. Franklin, however, bounced back to go on a 7-0 run over the next minute plus, to grab a 43-36 lead. Tara Dennis (Batavia, OH/Williamsburg) then made one-of-two free throws with 13:56 on the clock to cut the deficit to 43-40. The Lions closed to within three points again down the stretch, despite being held scoreless over the next four minutes of play. Heidi McManus (Bethel, OH/Williamsburg) broke the scoreless drought with a lay-up with 9:52 to play to make the score, 45-42.
Dennis' three-point play with 8:38 left cut the deficit to 47-45. Mosler kept the Lions in the game with 2:21 remaining when she hit a three-point shot, cutting the Franklin lead to 61-59 and teammate Meredith Hartfiel (Villa Hills, KY/Dixie Heights) also made a three-point, with 1:38 to play to keep the Mount to within two points. The Lions, however, would not score again the rest of the game as they committed three turnovers down the stretch.
Dennis led the Mount with a game-high 18 points and a game-high tying 14 rebounds while Mosler chipped in 15 points. Bristyl Webb (Oxford, OH/Talawanda) had seven points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals. McManus had five points, five steals, four assists and three rebounds.
