HANOVER, Ind. – The Franklin women's basketball team traveled to Hanover on Wednesday (Jan. 17) night for a meeting with the rival Panthers to conclude the first round of conference play.
 
Junior Taylor Cooney went for a career-high 30 points for the Grizzlies (10-6, 5-4 HCAC), but a furious fourth quarter rally came up just short as the Panthers (10-6, 8-1 HCAC) held on for a 70-68 win.
 
The two teams went back-and-forth in the opening quarter, with 10 lead changes exchanged and two ties in the opening 10 minutes. Hanover held the advantage in the second quarter, opening up a 37-31 lead at the break.
 
Hanover stretched their lead to a game-high 14 in the third quarter but Franklin charged back into the game and cut the Hanover lead to 61-59 with 4:41 to go. But the Grizzlies couldn't find the go-ahead bucket down the stretch, and after going up two with three seconds to play, the Panthers denied the Grizzlies a final shot before the buzzer.
 
Cooney finished her career night going 12-for-24 from the field and tied for the team lead with eight rebounds. She became the first Grizzly to drop 30 points in a game since 2019, when Bayleigh Walker had 31 against Framingham State.
 
Payton Seay added 12 points and eight boards off the bench. Franklin shot 38.2% (29-for-76) and finished with a 48-34 advantage in the paint.
 
The Grizzlies continue their road trip on Saturday (Jan. 20) when they head to Anderson for a meeting with the Ravens and the start of the second round of HCAC play. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m.