AU women roll into HCAC championship game
February 29th, 2008
The Anderson University women’s basketball team defeated No. 4 seed Hanover College 72-39 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference post-season tournament semifinal on Friday night at O.C. Lewis Gymnasium.
The top-seeded Ravens (18-7) will host No. 2 Manchester in the championship game on Saturday. The game will be carried live on the internet broadcast from O.C. Lewis Gymnasium at 2 p.m. The winner will earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Div. III national tournament next week.
The Ravens and Spartans have split their two regular season meetings, including a 71-44 AU victory on Mar. 20 in the regular season finale.
Against Hanover, Tiffany Bowsher led the Ravens with 17 points and seven rebounds, hitting 7-of-10 shots from the field and 3-of-4 from the free throw line.
Kayla Martin had 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals, hitting 7-of-11 field goals. Ellen Thompson and Mel Hawthorne also reached double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Thompson had five rebounds, two steals and Hawthorne added five rebounds, five assists and two blocks.
Lauren Vail had six points, three rebounds two assists and Mandy Seward chipped in with five points, four steals and a game-high nine assists.
The Ravens shot 53 percent from the field, including 61 percent in the second half when they outscored the Panthers 34-21. Hanover finished at 29 percent shooting, including only 26 percent in the first half when they were outscored by the hosts 38-18.
AU also had the advantage on the boards (39-36) as well as assists (19-8), turnovers (13-21) and steals (12-1).
