RICHMOND, IND. – A pivotal 9-4 run over the final 3:35 helped make Manchester University's Christmas a little brighter Sunday, Dec. 18.
The Spartans, trailing the host Earlham College Quakers 55-54 at that point, used a three-of-four performance at the free throw line from senior guard Jenifer Lee (Rockville, Ind.) and junior forward/center Samantha Bolen (Greenwood, Ind.) paired with a basket from each of them to go with a bucket from sophomore forward Beth Schaefer (Fort Wayne, Ind.) to pave the way towards a 63-59 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference win. The trio were each in double-figure scoring territory for MU (2-7 overall, 2-2 HCAC), as Bolen registered a single-game career high 20 points; Schaefer was just a rebound shy of a double-double (11 points, nine rebounds); and Lee finished with 13 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots.
Sophomore guard Faith-Alexis Graham (Indianapolis, Ind.) added more highlights for Coach Josh Dzurick's squad, tallying 11 points, six rebounds and six assists. Due to that effort and the others, Manchester University moved into a four-way tie for fifth on the league standings.
The Black and Gold return to action Tuesday, Dec. 27, taking a trip to Kalamazoo College for a clash with the Hornets of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Their 2016-17 conference schedule continues Wednesday, Jan. 4, when they visit Franklin College.
NOTES: Bolen and Lee have each seen their season points-per-game averages rise up over a point in recent play. Bolen, sporting a 15 ppg mark over her last two outings, is at a team-leading 10.7, while Lee, averaging 12 ppg in the same span, has climbed to 8.4 per contest … Sunday's decision was the 12th in the last 14 of the series to go to the Spartans.