Box Score FRANKLIN, Ind. – For the final time in the regular season, the Franklin women's basketball team took to the hardwood for a Saturday afternoon matchup with the Manchester Spartans inside Franklin's Spurlock Center.
Prior to the game, the women's basketball program said thank you to seniors Lindsay Freije and Cassidy Yant as part of the senior day festivities. Afterwards, both players were instrumental in helping the Grizzlies (7-4) earn a 69-57 win over the Spartans (4-14), giving the Griz a weekend sweep of their conference rival.
Junior Destinee Cross led Franklin with 16 points and Bayleigh Torrance added 14 off the bench for the Grizzlies. Jessica Nix finished just short of a triple-double with nine points, nine assists and eight rebounds on the night.
With the game tied midway through the first quarter, Franklin used a 12-1 run over the final 5:32 of the period to take a 20-9 lead through 10 minutes of play. Defense was key for Franklin in the opening period, with the hosts limiting the Spartans to 3-for-12 from the field. The lead wouldn't stay in double figures for long as Manchester cut the deficit to 24-21 with 4:34 to go in the half, but Franklin closed out the opening 20 minutes with a 9-0 run to take their largest lead of the half at 35-23.
Franklin's lead climbed as high as 16 in the third quarter but Manchester was able to get back within striking distance thanks to an 8-for-12 shooting performance in the period that got them within 56-45 with one quarter to go. Manchester would get within six points in the final period but couldn't close the gap any closer ahead of the final horn.
The Grizzlies knocked down 40% (24-for-60) of their field goals, going 2-for-5 from three and 19-for-31 at the free throw line. Rebounds were 40-36 in Franklin's favor and the Grizzlies committed a season-low 11 turnovers.
Post-season matchups around the conference will be announced in the coming days. Stay tuned to franklingrizzlies.com for an update on the Grizzlies' next contest.