DC Outlasts Hanover in a Shootout

HANOVER, Ind. – Defiance started conference play off strong, opening up HCAC play with a 90-84 victory over Hanover on Saturday, December 6. The Jackets are 4-0 this season when scoring over 70 points, after shooting over 56 percent from beyond the arc in the game.

The two teams battled neck and neck for the opening eight minutes of the contest, before Makayla Graves's layup gave Defiance a 19-14 advantage with 11:30 to play in the half. Hanover knotted the game at 23 five minutes later, but Defiance would hit five of its six first-half treys over the final six minutes to go into the break with a 42-33 lead.

Defiance started the second half strong, with another barrage from beyond the arc. DC jumped out to a 57-41 advantage in the first five minutes of the period, knocking down four trifectas in that span. Hanover cut the lead to seven, 69-62, but back-to-back treys by Courtney Schmersal and Jenna Deskins keyed a 9-0 run that gave the Jackets a 78-62 lead.

 Hanover's full-court pressure forced nine turnovers over the next five minutes, going on a 15-5 run to pull within six points, 83-77 with just over a minute remaining. However, Schmersal sank her seventh trey of the game on DC's next possession to put the game away, as the Jackets iced the contest with four-of-six shooting from the charity stripe in the final 30 seconds.

DC hit a season-high 14 three-pointers with eight of those coming in the second half. The Jackets also shot a season-best 43.2 percent from the field, while recording 10 blocks in the game. Defiance held Hanover to just 34 percent shooting, while forcing the Panthers to commit 23 turnovers.

Schmersal led Defiance with 24 points, knocking down seven-of-eight from downtown. Katie McNamara scored all 12 of her points from beyond the arc on four-of-five shooting, while Price added 11 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks. DC's post platoon of Amber Bailey and Mandie White combined for nine points, 18 caroms and seven blocks.

Defiance will return to the Karl H. Weaner Center on Saturday, December 13, when it hosts defending HCAC champion Manchester College. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.