Box Score
Visiting Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology converted 23-of-26 second half free throws, overcoming a one-point halftime deficit on Saturday en route to a 58-51 win over the Lions. The Mount ends the 2013-2014 season with a 3-22 overall mark, 3-15 in the HCAC.
The Lions led 23-22 at the intermission against the Fightin' Engineers, with both teams shooting in the 30 percent range from the floor. The Mount, however, connected on four-of-10 three-point attempts in the opening half, while Rose-Hulman was scoreless behind the arc. Heidi McManus (Bethel, OH/Williamsburg) led the Lions first half charge, firing in 11 points, while Tara Dennis (Batavia, OH/Williamsburg) grabbed eight rebounds.
Rose-Hulman grabbed the lead at the 18:05 mark of the second half, 24-23, after two free throws, and held a 27-25 advantage at 17:01. The Fightin' Engineers defense then clamped down on the Lions, holding them scoreless until 11:50, and improving their lead to 33-27. McManus added a free throw at 7:26 cutting the deficit to 38-35, and two more free throws by McManus made the score 42-39 at 6:04. The Mount, however, would get no closer as Rose-Hulman went on a scoring spree and bolted out to a double-digit lead at 52-42, at 2:46. The Lions would get to within six points on three different occasions down the stretch.
The Mount was nine-of-19 from the free throw line in the game, to Rose-Hulman's 29-of-35 from the charity stripe. Rose-Hulman committed 23 turnovers while the Mount had 112 turnovers. The Lions shot 31 percent from the field in the game, to Rose's 40 percent shooting, and were out-rebounded 42-25.
McManus finished with a game-high 22 points while Dennis added nine points and nine rebounds. McManus chipped in four assists and three steals.
