NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Manchester women's basketball team knocked off the Earlham College Quakers in HCAC play on Saturday, January 21. The Spartans defeated the Quakers by a final score of 77-58. 

The Quakers scored the first five points of Saturday's game, jumping out to a small lead early on. The Spartans would answer, taking the lead with just over 7 minutes to go in the opening quarter. Manchester would take the 13-11 lead going into the second quarter of play. The Black and Gold maintained their lead throughout the remainder of the half, outscoring the Quakers 22-13 in the second quarter to take the 11 point lead at halftime. 

The Spartans didn't let off the gas, shooting 58.82% from three-point range in the third quarter. Manchester saw their biggest lead of the game, 24 points, with 5:07 left on the clock in the final quarter of play. The Quakers and Spartans both scored 18 points in the fourth quarter, but the Spartans would hang to take Saturday's game by 19 points. 

First-year Hailee Kline (Huntington, Ind., Blackhawk Christian) led the Spartans with 13 points. Fellow first-years Ally Graber (Mooresville, Ind., Mooresville) and Abi chipped in 12 points apiece for the Black and Gold. Graber also tallied a team-high 5 assists. Mia Shields (Arcadia, Ind., Hamilton Heights) added 10 points while Jessie Ringen (Rensselaer, Ind., Rensselaer Central)pulled-down a team-high 6 rebounds for MU. As a team, Manchester shot 45.6% from the field, 40.0% from three-point range, and 63.0% from the free throw line. 

The Quakers were led by Janaiya Bright with 18 points during Saturday's contest. Alexis Gibson added 16 points while Eva Lyons finished the afternoon with a team-high 10 points for Earlham. As a team, the Quakers shot 33.3% from the field and 57.6% from the free throw line. Earlham is now 2-14, 1-8 HCAC following Saturday's loss 

Up next, Manchester men's and women's teams will travel to Transylvania University for another HCAC doubleheader on Wednesday, January 25. The women's basketball team will take-on the #2 ranked Pioneers at 1:00 p.m. with the men to follow at 3:00 p.m.