In a close contest Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn took the lead from Unity Christian late in the third quarter and never gave it back, defeating the Knights 40-35. The January 4 non-conference match-up at Hartley was the first contest of the new year for each team.
HMS led 7-4 after one quarter but trailed at halftime 16-15. The Knights forged a four-point lead at 21-17. A pair of three-pointers, one by Frankie Mohni and the other by Kylee Schiphoff, helped the Hawks pull even at 25-25. Schiphoff added a go-ahead basket and Gracie Knobloch nailed a trey to provide HMS with a 30-25 advantage entering the fourth quarter. The Hawks pushed the margin to nine points at 38-29 with 1:25 left in the game. A pair of three-pointers allowed Unity to trim the final deficit to five.
Schiphoff led HMS with 17 points. Mohni added eight points and Abby Douma and Moriah Otto each scored six. Knobloch had the trey for her three points. Schiphoff, Otto and Mohni each contributed two assists.
The Hawks were 15-of-46 from the floor to shoot 33 percent. Unity Christian finished at 24 percent with 13 baskets in 55 tries. HMS was 4-of-16 from beyond the arc and the Knights were 3-of-20. Each team sank six free throws with the Hawks getting 15 attempts and Unity 11.
The 16 HMS steals included four by Knobloch and three each by Mohni and Eliza Tewes. In addition, Douma rejected four shots. Unity turned the ball over 19 times while the Hawks committed 22 turnovers.
HMS was out-rebounded 42-33. Douma pulled down seven rebounds with Otto and Tewes each grabbing six and Addy Sheeler five.
Unity 4 12 9 10 – 35
HMS 7 8 15 10 – 40