NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – Manchester University managed to answer a double-figure first half deficit Wednesday, Jan. 28, but visiting Franklin College used an overtime run to pick up a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference win.

In the final five minutes, the host Spartans, falling to 9-9 overall and 6-5 in league play, held a 42-40 lead after a pair of free throws by junior guard Katie Arterburn (Indianapolis, Ind.). However, from that point, FC reeled off seven points in a row and didn't trail the rest of the period, keyed by four straight made free throws from sophomore guard Lauren DeSutter in the final 31 seconds, to close the 51-45 decision.

The visiting Grizzlies (10-7 overall, 8-3 HCAC) got out to a fast start, leading 19-6 at one point in the first half due to some tough luck shooting from the home team. However, they had to piece together a rally of their own, after the resilient Spartans, much to the delight of their home crowd inside Stauffer-Wolfe Arena, roared back on the heels of a 24-4 stretch for a 30-23 second half edge. FC caught their hosts at 40-all behind a pair of charity tosses with 17 seconds left. MU did have a chance to close the game in regulation, but an inside shot attempt went off to the right at the buzzer.

Arterburn's 13 points, due in large part to three treys, guided the Black and Gold. Junior guard Justin Kruger (Francesville, Ind.) was just off double digits, tallying eight points to go with two blocked shots. Senior center Alyssa Hammond (Osgood, Ind.) was next, finishing the night with seven points and six rebounds.

Manchester University, sitting in a tie for fifth with Rose-Hulman on the loop standings, resumes a four-game homestand Saturday, Jan. 31. League unbeaten Transylvania University of Kentucky, ranked No. 19 on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Division III top 25 and No. 15 by D3Hoops.com, makes a northern trek for a 1 p.m. tip-off.

NOTES: The senior guard tandem of Alyssa Smith (Bluffton, Ind.) and Jocelyn Hamilton (Columbus, Ind.) tied for the team high in steals with four each. Hamilton was also atop the assists chart (three), and Smith grabbed five rebounds to add to her totals … The six-point margin shouldn't come as a surprise to either fan base. The series has seen six of the last 10 meetings decided by 10-points-or-less.