NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – Manchester University took advantage of a strong defensive effort and free throw line advantage to gain an important Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference decision Wednesday, Feb. 4.

The Spartans, moving to 10-10 overall and 7-6 in league play, curbed the visiting Beavers of Bluffton University (13-7 overall, 8-5 HCAC) to less than 40 percent overall (35.6) and under 30 percent three-point (28.6) field goal accuracy in route to a 64-55 win. MU also hit 17-of-25 foul shots compared to a nine-of-13 effort for BU which helped lead the junior guard duo of Katie Arterburn (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Justine Kruger (Francesville, Ind.) to 15 and 13-point totals, respectively.

Arterburn, leading the Black and Gold in scoring for a third straight contest, converted a 60 percent rate from the field (six-of-10) and from outside the arc (three-of-five) as part of her 15-point night. She also picked off a team-leading three steals. Kruger ended with 13 points due in large part to a six-of-seven outing at the charity stripe and picked off two steals. Senior forward Abby Lang (Indianapolis, Ind.) and senior guard Alyssa Smith (Bluffton, Ind.) just missed adding their names to the double-figure scoring roll with nine and eight points, respectively.

Manchester University led throughout, opening as much as a 19-point margin (52-33) in the second half. However, just as they did in the earlier match-up at Bluffton University's Sommer Center, the visitors proved tough to put away, cutting the deficit to 58-55 with 1:43 left after a 22-6 roll. The Spartans managed to ice it behind a six-of-eight effort at the free throw line, while BU missed its last two shot attempts down the stretch.

MU begins a stretch of playing four of its final five regular season contests on the road with a pivotal league clash at Rose-Hulman Saturday, Feb. 7. Tip-off time is 3 p.m.

NOTES: The victory moved the Spartans into a tie for fifth with Defiance College of Ohio on the conference standings. They go into the weekend just a game behind BU for fourth and only two shy of Franklin College for third … Arterburn's roll of three straight double-digit scoring contests has seen her season points' average climb one full point (9.6-10.6). Through 20 games, she is the team scoring leader … Kruger's multiple-steal effort was her 11^th of the year … Senior guard Jocelyn Hamilton (Columbus, Ind.) dished out a team-high seven assists for her 10^th multiple-assist contest over the last 11 games … MU's win marked the 16^th in the last 24 of the series against Bluffton.