NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – Manchester University greeted the New Year in high fashion Saturday, Jan. 4.
The Spartans, keeping pace with defending Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference champion Transylvania University atop the league standings at 4-0, scored 22 of the game's first 26 points and didn't look back en route to an 83-46 win over the College of Mt. St. Joseph of Ohio. MU, improving to 7-4 overall, was impressive from the field, hitting at 50 percent, and from beyond the arc, converting at a 46.7 percent clip.
As has been the case throughout Manchester University's strong conference start, many stars shone bright.
Sophomore guard Katie Arterburn dropped in 16 points due in large part to four three-point buckets to lead four Black and Gold players in double figures. The inside duo of junior center Alyssa Hammond (Osgood, Ind.) and sophomore center Stephanie Barmes (Greenwood, Ind.) proved effective, too. Hammond tallied 14 points, five rebounds and a blocked shot, and Barmes finished with 12 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots. Freshman guard Jenifer Lee (Rockville, Ind.) chipped in 10 points for her first double-figure scoring game in an MU uniform. Sophomore forward Kasey Reneau (Hagerstown, Ind.) and junior guard Jocelyn Hamilton (Columbus, Ind.) also played key roles, too. Reneau grabbed 12 boards, as part of a 44-37 edge on the glass, and Hamilton, the HCAC's assist leader, dished out nine of the team's 23.
The Spartans continue a brief two-game home stand Wednesday, Jan. 8. Franklin College, sitting just a game behind Manchester University and Transylvania along with Hanover College at 3-1, visits Stauffer-Wolfe Arena for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
NOTES – The Black and Gold's 4-0 HCAC start is the program's best since the 2007-08 squad won its first eight conference contests … Reneau's 12 rebounds marked the third time this season a Spartan player has grabbed double-digit boards … Arterburn garnered her fifth double-figure scoring game of the year and hit multiple treys in a contest for the sixth time this season … Hamilton registered her 11th straight multiple-assist game with her total tying a personal single-game career high.