CINCINNATI, Ohio - For the fourth time this season sophomores Maleha Motter (Danville, Ind.) and Alexis Nall (Mount Vernon, Ind.) posted a double-double each in the same game as the Hanover women's basketball team defeated Mount St. Joseph 76-52 on the road Wednesday evening. 

The two sophomores combined for 40 of the team's 72 points and 31 of the Panthers season-high 59 rebounds to help Hanover improve to 16-8 overall and 12-5 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Lions, meanwhile, fell to 10-14 overall and 6-11 in league play.

After falling behind 4-2 in the opening minutes, the Panthers scored 16 unanswered points to go in front 18-4. Mount St. Joseph, which was limited to only 20.0% (3-15) shooting in the first quarter, made a lay-up at the end of the period, but would trail 18-6 after the first 10 minutes of play.

Nall scored the first four points of the second quarter to extend the lead to 22-6. The lead would grow to as many as 20 points (33-13) before Hanover took a 41-25 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

The Lions pulled within 12 (45-33) at the 6:36 mark of the third quarter only to see the Panthers score the next five points to push it back to a 17-point game. 

With 2:36 left in the third quarter Mount St. Joseph cut the lead to 12 again, but that was as close as the Lions would get. Hanover led 55-42 at the end of three periods and was in control the entire fourth quarter leading by as many as 26 before finishing with the 24-point victory. 

The win is the fourth straight for the Panthers, who have now also defeated Mount St. Joseph in fourth straight meetings. Hanover shot 47.1% (24-51) from the field, including 24 of 32 (75.0%) from the free throw line, while allowing the Lions to shoot only 29.9% (20-67) on the evening.

Motter and Nall led all scorers with 20 points each. Motter grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds to go along with a pair of assists and two steals. Nall made eight of her 11 attempts from the floor and grabbed 12 rebounds with a game-high seven coming on the offensive glass.

The Panthers will conclude the regular season Saturday, Feb. 17 when they return home to host Defiance. The game will also be played as part of Senior Day and is slated to tip off at 1 p.m. in Collier Arena. 

Contact: Mike Pritchard

pritchard@hanover.edu