ANDERSON, IND. – Sophomore guard Faith-Alexis Graham (Indianapolis, Ind.) resumed a recent span of strong play Wednesday, Jan. 18, guiding Manchester University past Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference rival Anderson University.
Graham, averaging better than nine points per game in her last four contests played, turned in a single-game collegiate career high of 18 points, draining a pair of three-point buckets in the process, to top Coach Josh Dzurick's team. She also picked off a pair of Ravens' pass attempts and dished out three assists.
The Spartans, winning for the fifth time in their last nine outings to improve to 5-11 overall and 4-5 in the HCAC, were on an early roll inside AU's O.C. Lewis Gymnasium. They scored 26 of the first 37 points, before Anderson University (5-11, 2-7 conference) scored the final six of the first half to ignite a 28-11 run of their own which crescendoed with a bucket at the 5:04 mark of the fourth period for a 39-37 edge. From that point, Graham shouldered the load for the Black and Gold, hitting a lay-up, canning a three-pointer and going two-for-two at the free throw line in the final 4:51 to send MU to a 45-41 decision, their 21st win in the series' last 27 games.
Sophomore forward/center Beth Schaefer (Fort Wayne, Ind.) was next in line with a seven-point, nine-rebound, one-blocked shot effort. Junior center/forward Torrie Christlieb (Culver, Ind.) tallied six points, four rebounds, a blocked shot and a steal.
MU aims for the .500 mark in conference action on the first day of the second half, as Earlham College visits Stauffer-Wolfe Arena for a 2 p.m. start.