PHOTOS

ANDERSON, Ind. – The Earlham women's basketball team came from 12 points down to take a lead, but offensive rounding of Anderson University gave the Ravens an 80-71 victory over the Quakers in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) action on Saturday.

Earlham trailed 20-13 after one quarter of play and found itself down a dozen (29-17) with 7:15 to play in the second quarter. Four different Quakers scored baskets in the next two minutes as Earlham went on an 11-0 run to get within a single point at 29-28. The Ravens would stretch the lead back up to seven points at halftime.

Senior Kasin Spay was limited to two minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, but the Muncie, Ind., native caught fire and score Earlham's first eight points of the quarter before picking up her fourth foul at the 5:37 mark of the third quarter. The three-pointer from junior Lexi McFarland that followed got Earlham within three points, 46-43.

The Quakers took their first lead of the game with a minute to play in the third quarter when junior Hannah Franklin connected on two free throws. The Lynn, Ind., native followed the two free throws with a jumper to give Earlham a three-point lead, 56-53 after three quarters of play. In the third session, Earlham outscored Anderson 24-14.

Anderson (3-4, 2-0 HCAC) made its run with 6:29 to play in the contest. The Ravens, trailing 60-59, scored eight points in a little over two minutes to regain a seven-point edge. The Quakers would get within two on a free throw from junior Mariah Flynn and had a chance to tie the game with 2:28 to play, but the rim was not kind to McFarland as her deep three-pointed rimmed out.

Ninety seconds later, freshman Raven Thibodeaux hit two free throws to get Earlham within two points (71-69) with 1:14 to play. A three-pointer from Nicki Kiefer on the ensuing possession gave Anderson a five-point lead it would not relinquish.

Five Quakers scored in double figures with Franklin leading the way with 16 points. Spay finished with 14 (all in the second half) while Flynn and senior Kiara Scott each had 12. McFarland rounded out Earlham's double-digit scorers with 10 points.

Blayr Poston led all scored with 20 points for the Ravens.

Anderson held a 53-35 edge in rounding including 22 offensive boards. 56 total fouls were called and both teams combined to shoot 75 free throws.

The victory for Anderson over Earlham snaps the Quakers' four-game winning streak over Anderson.

Earlham now stands at 1-4 on the season and plays host to two teams who made the HCAC Tournament a season ago, Bluffton on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and Franklin on Saturday at 1 p.m.