DEFIANCE, OHIO – The sophomore – senior duo of forward Tori Christlieb (Culver, Ind.) and guard Justin Kruger (Francisville, Ind.) led Manchester University's statistical efforts in its 2015-16 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener Wednesday, Dec. 2.

Christlieb dropped in nine points to go with six rebounds and three steals, and Kruger turned in an eight-point, three-steal night inside the Karl H. Weaner Center during a 68-47 loss at the hands of Defiance College. Freshman forward Maddy Minehart (Auburn, Ind.) came off the bench with eight points, six rebounds and three steals to aid in MU's final totals.

Defiance, improving to 1-4 overall and 1-0 in the conference, went out to an early 11-5 lead behind a 7-0 run and didn't look back. The Yellow Jackets limited the Black and Gold (1-3 overall, 0-1 HCAC) to 17 points combined over the second and third periods due, in large part, to some tough shooting numbers, as MU converted just over 31 percent of its attempts from the field and canned only one of 10 three-point tries.

The Spartans, seeking to even their league mark, return to Stauffer-Wolfe Arena for a 1 p.m. tipoff against Hanover College Saturday, Dec. 5.