MONTGOMERY, Ala. --- The Mississippi College women's basketball team cut a 14-point second half deficit to just two points in the final minutes, but could not come all the way back as they fell to Hanover, 80-74, in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic played at Huntingdon College.

The Lady Choctaws (6-5) grabbed a 35-21 lead with 5:32 remaining in the first half when senior Ebony Williams made the second of two free throws.  As a team, MC went 18-18 from the foul line with Williams knocking down all six of her attempts.

The Lady Panthers (8-3) closed out the first half on a 17-2 run to take a 38-37 lead into the halftime break.  Courtney Prater made a layup with 9:26 remaining in the second half to give Hanover their largest lead of the game at 61-47.

With one minute remaining, senior Valeri Stewart came away with one of her six steals and made two free throws on the other end to cut the lead to just 74-72.  Stewart scored eight points and had two rebounds to go along with the six swipes.

The Lady Panthers answered with a fastbreak layup by Prater and hit their final four free throws to clinch the victory.  For the game, Hanover was 21-28 from the foul line and shot 52% (28-54) from the floor.

Ebony Williams posted her first double-double of the season with 18 points and 12 rebounds.  Junior Jasmine James came off the bench to score 14 points and pull down four boards.  The Lady Choctaws shot 43% from the floor, but went just 2-12 from the three-point line.

Alicia Hopkins led four scorers in double-figures for Hanover with 19 points.  Prater had 14 points, while Katie Gahimer scored 10 second-half points for the Lady Panthers.

MC will be back in action on Thursday, January 3rd when they host Schreiner at 5:30 p.m. in A.E. Wood Coliseum.