Thursday, January 03, 2013
by Dane Neumeister

Hanover College got productive inside and outside play on Wednesday night, and solid play from their bench, as they grabbed an 11-point halftime lead and went on to a 75-55 victory at home over the Mount. The Lions, 3-9 overall, 2-3 in the HCAC, will return to conference action on Jan. 5 when they host Rose-Hulman.

The Panthers jumped out to an 8-0 lead against the Lions in the first 3 1/2 minutes of play, but saw the Mount cut the deficit to 15-14 at 7:21 when Tara Dennis (Batavia, OH/Williamsburg) made a basket in the paint. The Panthers, however, would go on a 16-6 run at that point, displaying accurate free throw shooting and hitting key outside shot, to jump out to a commanding 31-20 advantage with 2:22 left in the half. Hanover would end the half holding a 35-24 lead. Both teams finished shooting in the low 30 percent range in the opening half, but Hanover converted five, three-point shots while the Lions were zero-for-six from long range. The Panthers also out-scored the Mount, 9-0 from the free throw line.

Hanover would hold onto their double-digit lead until 9:58 to play in the game, when the Mount's Melanie Monahan (Mason, OH/Bishop Fenwick) made a jump shot to cut the score to 48-39. The Panthers would roll off a 7-2 scroing spree, and grab control of the game in the next few minutes. Hanover would lead down the stretch by as many 22 points as they improved to 9-3 on the season.

Dennis finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and four steals while Monahan added 10 points. Hanover held a 47-39 rebounding edge. The two teams combined to committ 61 turnovers and shoot under 35 percent from the field.