BOX SCORE
VIDEO INTERVIEW - SHEREE WILLIAMS
VIDEO INTERVIEW - JON PREVO
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology women's basketball team bolstered its postseason aspirations defeating Hanover College 70-65 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) action Wednesday, Feb. 11.
The victory over Hanover snapped a 16-game losing streak to the Panthers. The last time the Fightin' Engineers topped Hanover was during the 2007-08 season.
Rose-Hulman's biggest lead came with 14:09 to play in the first half. Hanover chipped away at the Engineer lead and eventually tied the game 38-38 with on two free throws by Kelsey Block to end the first half.
Hanover (15-7, 11-4 HCAC) took its biggest lead (54-49) with 8:14 to play in regulation. This time it was the Engineers making a run, scoring 15 of the next 17 points to lead by eight with 2:30 to play. The Panthers cut the lead down to a single point with a minute to play, but free throws from junior Cassidy Cain and sophomore Abbie Marshall clinched Rose-Hulman's victory.
Cain led a balanced scoring effort for the Engineers with 10 points and three assists. Senior Gracie Gibbs added nine points and nine rebounds while Marshall and sophomore Kristen Belyea each chipped in eight points.
Jessie Davidson and Allison Nash each scored 15 points to lead Hanover in defeat.
As a team, Rose-Hulman held a 49-37 rebounding edge as well as a 14-8 lead in second chance points.
The Engineers improve to 12-10 on the season with the victory including an 8-7 mark in HCAC play. Rose-Hulman now stands in a three-way tie for fifth place in the HCAC with three games remaining for each team. The Engineers finish their three-game home stand on Saturday against Bluffton. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m.
