Though it never trailed on Wednesday evening, Franklin women's basketball never built a big enough lead to get comfortable, either.

But every time things got tight, the Grizzlies did what they needed to do, hanging on for a 74-67 victory over Rose-Hulman on Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night at the Spurlock Center.

"We talked at half — we can't be hanging our heads when something happens," Griz coach Ashley Blanch said. "You have to realize the score, what's going on and just, the next play is what we have to make sure that we're focusing on."

Franklin (15-4, 10-2 HCAC) built an early 19-8 behind four points apiece from Briley Munchel, Avery Kelley and Jordan Coon, but couldn't shake the visiting Engineers, who trimmed the deficit to one during the second quarter and eventually used an 8-0 run in the third to tie the game at 44-44. 

A 3-pointer from Coon capped a six-point surge in response, and the Grizzlies never trailed again. A Taylor Turk putback just before the third-quarter horn put the home side up 58-50, and the game never got closer than six points after that. A Turk 3 with 5:04 to go gave Franklin its largest lead of the night at 69-56.

"I always talk about a player-led team," Blanch said. "They know what to do. We practice it day in and day out, so just stick to the basics and make sure that we're communicating and gathering as much as possible, and just making sure that we're all on the same page."

Turk registered her second consecutive double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Coon also scored 17 in the win, with Payton Seay adding 12 points and eight boards while Munchel chipped in with 10 points.

The Grizzlies, tied atop the HCAC standings with Transylvania, are back at Spurlock on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 31, 2 p.m.) for an Alumnae Day matchup against Bluffton.