NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Franklin women's basketball team opened a three-game road trip on Saturday (Jan. 18) afternoon, taking on the Manchester Spartans in a battle of two teams tied for third place in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC).

Franklin (9-5, 5-3 HCAC) overcame a slow start in impressive fashion, ripping off a huge first quarter run to open a large lead on the Spartans (7-8, 4-4 HCAC). Four Grizzlies finished the afternoon in double figures as Franklin rolled to an 89-64 win.

The first five minutes of the game saw the Grizzlies connect on just one field goal, allowing the Spartans to take a 10-4 lead into the final half of the first period. The remainder of the opening quarter was all Grizzlies, as Franklin shook off their early struggles to close out the period with a 17-2 run and take a 21-12 lead after one.

The Grizzlies kept their foot on the gas in the second, starting the period with another 17-2 run that stretched the lead to 38-14 with 3:48 to go before the half. The entire quarter saw the Grizzlies concede just two field goals and out-score the Spartans 28-12 to take a 49-24 edge into the half. Franklin held Manchester to 22.2% (6-for-27) shooting and forced 14 turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

Back-to-back buckets from Destinee Cross and Ashlin Aycock opened the second half and gave Franklin its largest lead of the day. But the third quarter would belong to the Spartans, as Manchester out-scored the Grizzlies 24-15 to make it a 64-48 game going into the fourth.

Manchester closed the gap to 13 early in the final frame, but would come no closer. Franklin went 7-for-15 from the floor and knocked down 11 fourth quarter free throws to pull away and seal their fifth league win of the year.

Cross led the Grizzlies and set a new career-high with 17 points while Bayleigh Torrance also set a new personal best with 14 points. Bayleigh Walker added 13 points and Aycock chipped in with 11 for a Franklin side that shot 46.7% (33-for-73) from the floor. Defensively Franklin put the clamps down, holding the Spartans to 29.3% (17-for-58) shooting and forcing 21 turnovers.

The Grizzlies dominated the game in the paint, out-scoring the Spartans 54-14 in close and out-rebounding the hosts 51-36. Jessica Nix led the Grizzlies with nine boards, while Taylor McDaniel and Cassidy Yant had four steals each.

Franklin closes out the first trip through the league on Wednesday (Jan. 22) night, when they continue their road trip at Rose-Hulman. Start time is set for 7:30 p.m.