ANDERSON, Ind. – Posting its best defensive effort under third year head coach John Jones was the Hanover women's basketball team, as they defeated Anderson on the road Saturday evening, 79-44.

After allowing 20 points in the first quarter, the Panthers (10-5, 6-2 HCAC) outscored the Ravens over the final three frames 59-24. Hanover only conceded 14 second half points as well, posting a new season low, 6 points allowed in the third quarter.

A balanced offensive attack for Blue and Red, which saw 12 players score and five Panthers post at least eight points, was led by sophomore Maleha Motter (Danville, Ind.). Motter tallied 16 points, as well as a team high nine rebounds.

Senior Allison Nash (Speedway, Ind.), who was coming off a career high 29 points last time out, netted 7-of-11 field goals for 15 points. The senior also added five rebounds. Junior Avery Chezem(Loogootee, Ind.) was the third starter in double figures with 10 points. Chezem recorded HC's only two blocked shots as well.

Off the bench, senior Julia Miller (Hartsville, Ind.) and sophomore Kristin Mills (Cincinnati, Ohio) each tallied season high point totals, as the Blue and Red enjoyed a 26-8 edge in bench scoring. Miller and Mills combined to make 8-of-10 field goal attempts, recording eight and nine points respectively.

Hanover also held a 15-7 advantage in assists, as sophomore Brooke Todd (Vevay, Ind.) accounted for one-third of HC's helpers with five. Todd has now recorded five assists in each of the last three games.

Overall, the Panthers posted a .485 shooting clip (33-68), while holding the Ravens to a .321 field goal percentage. Hanover held AU to just five made field goals and a .217 shooting mark in the second half.

After HC jumped out to an early seven-point advantage, 15-8, the Ravens (0-15, 0-8 HCAC) rallied to tie the score by the end of the first quarter, 20-20.

The Panthers, who never trailed Saturday, scored nine of the first 11 points in the second period, eventually pushing its lead to 13 points, 43-30, by the intermission.

Hanover continued its offensive pace in the second half, tallying 22 points in the third quarter. The Blue and Red also held AU to just two points over the final six minutes of the period, taking a 65-36 advantage into the final 10-minute frame.

Again, HC posted a stout defensive effort in the fourth, this time allowing just two made field goals to enjoy a 14-8 edge on the scoreboard over the final 10 minutes.

The Blue and Red's stingy defense created offense Saturday, as HC turned 34 Anderson giveaways into a 40-11 advantage in points off turnovers. Points in the paint were also in favor of the Panthers, 58-26.

Hanover has now won nine straight against Anderson, tying its longest winning streak since the start of the 2006-07 campaign. The Panthers have also won 10 of their first 15 games to start a season for the first time since 2012-13.

Hanover has now closed out a month-long road swing and will look to continue its current three-game winning streak when they return to Collier Arena to face Mt. St. Joseph at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 17.

Contact: Tyler Jester

jestert@hanover.edu