Hanover thumps Simmons in home debut

Hanover College's women's basketball team coasted to a 71-48 victory against Simmons College (Ky.) in its 2007 home debut. The contest was played Sunday, Nov. 25, in Collier Arena.

Lacey Hornaday

Freshman guard Lacey Hornaday (Rushville, Ind.) made 8-of-9 field goals and scored 18 points to spark Hanover to a win in the program's first meeting with Simmons.

Senior forward Kim Byrdwell (Danville, Ind.) netted 13 points off the bench and junior forward Rachel Walters (Ladoga, Ind.) added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Panthers (2-1).

Sophomore guard LaQuisha Wharton scored 16 points and grabbed five rebounds to pace Simmons (4-5). Freshman guard Donisha Richardson added 13 points and four assists for the Lady Panthers.

Hornday scored 13 points to help Hanover jump out to a 36-13 lead at the intermission. Byrdwell scored seven quick points early in the second half as the Panthers opened a 33-point lead (58-25) with 10 minutes to play.

Hanover vs. Simmons stats available here.

Walters named HCAC player of the week

Junior forward Rachel Walters (Ladoga, Ind.) has been honored as the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference player of the week for her efforts in Hanover's opening two basketball games last week.

Rachel Walters

Walters, a 5-foot-8 forward, registered two doubles as the Panthers split a pair of games in the Sodexho Classic, Nov. 16-17, in Lexington, Ky.

She scored 13 points and grabbed a career-hihg 20 rebounds in a 94-84 loss to Berea College (Ky.) Nov. 16. She posted 10 points and 11 rebounds in a 64-62 victory against Midway College (Ky.) Nov. 17.

Walters has recorded more than 10 rebounds in each of her last eight games for the Panthers (1-1). Her 20 rebounds were just one off the school's single-game record. Former Hanover standout Andrea Spurgeon pulled down 21 rebounds in a 1999 contest against Wooster College (Ohio).

Through two games, Walters ranks second on Hanover's team with 11.5 points per game. She leads the squad with 15.5 boards per contest.

Hanover edges Midway for first victory

Freshman center Molly Martin (Terre Haute, Ind.) and junior forward Rachel Walters (Ladoga, Ind.) each posted double-doubles to fuel Hanover College's women's basketball team to a 64-62 win against Midway College (Ky.). The game, part of the Sodexho Classic, was played Saturday, Nov. 17, in Lexington, Ky.

Molly Martin

Martin notched games highs with 21 points and 17 rebounds to lead Hanover (1-1). Walters, who has grabbed more than 10 rebounds in her last eight outings, added 10 points and 11 boards for the Panthers.

Midway (4-3) led 42-34 at the intermission. The Eagles led by 10 points in the opening minute of the second period. Martin, however, scored 10 points during a four-minute span to help Hanover creep within 46-44 with 14 minutes to play.

Freshman forward Torin Franz (Bloomington, Ind.) scored eight points for Hanover, including a pair of free throws with 17 seconds remaining to give the Panthers a three-point cushion in the closing moments.

Hanover outrebounded Midway, 48-28, but committed 30 turnovers. The Eagles shot just 18.8 percent from the floor in the second half (6-of-32), including 1-of-13 from three-point range.

Hanover vs. Midway stats available here.

Panthers open season with loss to Berea

Hanover College's women's basketball squad opened its 2007-08 campaign with a 94-84 loss to Berea College (Ky.). The Panthers' lid-lifter was played Friday, Nov. 16, as part of the Sodexho Classic in Lexington, Ky.

Junior forward Rachel Walters (Ladoga, Ind.) scored 13 points and grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds to lead Hanover (0-1), which had four players reach double figures.

Rachel Walters

Walters' 20 boards were just one off the school's single-game record. Former Hanover standout Andrea Spurgeon pulled down 21 rebounds in a 1999 contest against Wooster College (Ohio).

Freshmen Torin Franz (Bloomington, Ind.), Micah Whitted (Norman, Ind.) and Chelsea Traver (Wabash, Ind.) each hit double figures for the Panthers in their first collegiate contest. Franz and Whitted scored a team-best 14 points apiece. Traver added 10 points for the Panthers.

Berea (3-1) led by as many as eight points (43-35) in the first half and stretched the lead to 11 points (68-57) midway through the second period.

Franz made a pair of free throws and Traver added a bucket during a 9-2 Hanover run which cut the margin to 75-72 with less than six minutes to play.

Berea outscored Hanover 15-6 during a four-minute span to boost the cushion to 90-78 with just one minute remaining.

Hanover vs. Berea stats available here.

Young squad tabbed seventh in HCAC race

The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference head basketball coaches have tabbed Hanover College's women's team to finish seventh in the battle for the league's 2008 championship.

Hanover earned 34 points in a balloting of the conference's nine coaches. The Panthers, under head coach Molly Jones, posted a 3-21 record last season, including a 1-15 mark in HCAC games.

Junior forward Rachel Walters (Ladoga, Ind.) leads Hanover's roster, which features 10 frreshmen this season

Walters led the Panthers in scoring and rebounding during the 2006-07 campaign. She averaged 10.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per contest, with 10 double-doubles.

Manchester College earned the top spot in the coaches' poll. The Spartans received five first-place votes and 77 points in the poll. Manchester finished the 2006-07 season with a 21-7 record, including a 15-1 mark in HCAC games.

Hanover tips off its season Friday, Nov. 16, against Berea College (Ky.) in Lexington, Ky. The Panthers’ home debut will be Sunday, Nov. 25, against Simmons College (Ky.) in Collier Arena.

Panthers' Last Outing
Nov. 25	1	2	OT	F
Simmons	13	35	-	48
Hanover	36	35	-	71
Hanover 2-1, Simmons 4-5
Next Contest
Dec. 1 at Rose-Hulman