Lady Spartans Fall In Opener
ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Manchester University women’s basketball team fell on the road in its season opener at Rockford on Saturday November 6.
The Regents, members of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, defended their home court by knocking off the Spartans by a final score of 83-82.
The Black & Gold opened the game with a 7-2 lead following 7 early points by first-year Eva Bazzoni (Wabash, Ind./Manchester).
The Regents then used an 18-4 burst over a large portion of the opening period to grab a 9-point lead. Rockford shot 57.9 percent in the 1st quarter and led 24-14 after 10 minutes of action.
Rockford grew its lead to as much as 14 points (30-16) early in the 2nd quarter. Manchester responded with a 13-0 run over a 3 and half minute stretch to claw back to within a basket midway through the period. The Regents then converted a late flurry of baskets in the paint to stretch its lead back up to 9 points, 42-33, at the intermission.
The 3rd quarter saw both teams shoot well from the floor. Rockford narrowly outscored the Black & Gold 25-23 in the frame after shooting 62.5 percent (10-16). Manchester shot 60 percent (9-15) in the 3rd quarter.
The 4th quarter proved to be dramatic as Manchester and Rockford traded baskets in the final seconds. The Black & Gold rallied from a double-digit deficit after going on an 18-8 run and grabbed a 1-point lead with just 4 seconds left on the clock following a driving, right-handed layup by Eva Bazzoni. The Regents then called their final timeout of the game to advance the ball and RU’s Au’Drina Terhune sunk a floater in the paint as time expired to lift Rockford to a 1-point victory.
Both sides found success on offense on Saturday afternoon. Rockford ended the ballgame shooting 53 percent (35-66) from the field. Terhune led the Regents with a double-double after scoring 19 points and dishing out 10 assists. Three other Regents scored in double figures, Anaya Davis (18 points), Jocelyn Callahan (16 points, 4 3FGM), and Roshanda Stevens (11 points).
Manchester shot 50.9 percent (28-55) from the floor. MU also made good use of the free throw line, finishing 20-22 for a 91 percent clip. Eva Bazzoni, making her collegiate debut this afternoon, led Manchester with 23 points on the strength of 8-14 shooting. She also went 5-9 from downtown. Senior Macy Miller (Huntertown, Ind./Carroll) added 20 points. Miller finished 6-10 from the floor and was a perfect 8-8 at the charity stripe. She added 6 boards.
Miranda Bieghler (Plainfield, Ind./South Putnam) chipped in 17 points, while Hillery Shepherd (Middletown, Ind./Shenandoah) added 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.
