HANOVER, Ind. – On Friday, February 16
th your Mount St. Joseph University women's basketball team traveled to Hanover College to take on the Panthers in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup. The Lions trailed by double-digits at halftime but a 20-point 3
rd quarter pulled them within five. In the final quarter the Lions could not erase their deficit falling to Hanover 63-55. Despite the loss, the Lions clinched the #3 seed in the upcoming HCAC Tournament.
To begin the game, Hanover got off to a solid start. The Panthers paired solid defense with complimentary offense to build a 10-5 lead with 3:30 remaining in the quarter. But, the Lions would answer right back with a three-pointer from
Karlee Mills and a layup from
Whitney Warfel to tie the game at 10. The Panthers would jump ahead with just under a minute remaining to take a 12-10 lead to end the quarter.
In the second quarter, the Panthers created some separation. The Lions struggled as a team in the quarter shooting just 4-15 from the floor to fall behind by double-digits. At halftime, the Lions trailed the Panthers 33-23.
Following the break, the Lions looked like a new team offensively. Each squad traded buckets until the Lions would begin to chop down the Panthers lead. With 4:52 remaining in the quarter, three straight buckets from Mills, Warfel and
Morgan Jenkins cut the Lions deficit to just two. Hanover extended their lead back to five before the quarter break as the Lions trailed 48-43.
In the final quarter of play, the Lions threatened to start. The Lions quickly pulled within two with a three-pointer from Jenkins and a layup from
Madison Drummonds. After falling behind by six, a three-pointer from Mills kept it close with 6:51 remaining. Following the three-pointer from Mills, the Panthers' defense stepped up. The Panthers held the Lions to just four points for the remainder of the game knocking off the Lions 63-55 in the final regular season game of the 2023-24 season. The Lions finished the season with a 20-5 record (14-4 HCAC) securing the #3 seed in the HCAC Tournament, hosting the #6 Anderson Ravens.
Mills led the way offensively for the Lions finishing with 21 points and 5 assists. Jenkins followed adding 12 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Warfel was also productive finishing with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks.
UP NEXT: Your Mount St. Joseph Lions are back in action on Sunday, February 18
th when they welcome the #6 seed Ravens of Anderson University to the Harrington Center for the Opening Round of the HCAC Tournament. Tip-off is scheduled to begin at 4PM.
