CINCINNATI, OHIO – A 12-2 run from the late stages of the third period to the midway portion of the fourth period turned out to be the difference in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference clash Saturday, Dec. 12.

Manchester University, despite surrendering 12 of the game's first 15 points to the host Lions of Mt. St. Joseph University, whittled away at the deficit throughout the next quarter plus, eventually tying up the contest at 36-36 with 4:20 to go in the third stanza. From that point, MSJ used the pivotal stretch to reestablish a double-digit cushion in route to a 64-57 win inside the Harrington Center.

The Spartans, dipping to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in league play, did put two players in double figures. Senior guard Katie Arterburn nailed five three-pointers as part of a 17-point afternoon. Fellow senior guard Justine Kruger (Francisville, Ind.) just missed a double-double with an 11-point, eight-rebound effort that added in four steals.

Manchester University returns to action Tuesday, Dec. 15, closing its pre-Christmas home slate against Kalamazoo College. Tipoff is 7 p.m. at Stauffer-Wolfe Arena.

NOTES: Arterburn saw her season points' average continue to rise with her second straight double-figure scoring game. She's up two and a half points (7.-9.5) in the span … Kruger picked up her third double-digit finish and second in a row, too. The eight boards were the most in a game for her since 2013-14 … Tough-luck shooting in all three areas proved to be a storyline, too, for the visitors. Manchester University hit just over 36 percent from the field overall, under 35 percent from outside the arc and just over 61 percent at the free throw line. The hosts also took advantage of a 41-34 rebounding edge.