Transy Outlasts Defiance in Shootout

DEFIANCE, Ohio - Defiance was not able to open the new year on a high note, dropping an 84-80 decision to Transylvania University in matchup that featured two of the HCAC's most lethal offenses. The Jackets fall to 1-3 in the conference with the loss, while Transy moves to 3-1 in HCAC play.

DC stormed out of the gate, scoring the first six points of the contest behind back-to-back steals by Tasha Stucke. Defiance went cold over the next nine minutes, as the Pioneers used a 21-7 spurt to grab an eight-point advantage with 11:41 remaining in the game.

Transylvania saw its lead grow to as many as 11, 40-29, but Holly Stein's trey helped spark a Jackets' run that closed the gap at the half. Courtney Schmersal capped off 15-5 stretch with a trifecta to draw DC within one, before Jackie Distler's layup sent the Pioneers into the break with a 47-44 advantage.

Amber Bailey scored the first three points of the final stanza to erase the Jackets' deficit. However, a three-pointer by Distler and a Holly Milburn jumper quickly put Transy back up by five.

Shavonda Price and Mandie White gave Defiance its first lead since the 15:12 mark in the opening period, combining to score ten consecutive points to put DC out in front, 61-58. That advantage proved to be short lived, as Ashley Pait took over for the Pioneers. The junior guard orchestrated a six-point swing in a ten-second span, hitting treys on back-to-back possessions. Pait had a hand in 13 of Transy's final 20 points to help the Pioneers answer every one of DC's comeback attempts in the final five minutes.

The Jackets could not overcome the Pioneers blistering hot shooting, as Transy shot 50 percent from the field and put four players in double-figures. Defiance was 5-of-11 from downtown in the first half, but was held to just 1-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc in the closing period. DC knocked down 38.6 percent of its field goal attempts, while outscoring Transylvania by 10 points from the charity stripe.

Stein led Defiance with 18 points, knocking down all eight of her attempts from the line. Courtney Schmersal and Shavonda Price also reached double-figures for the Jackets, as Schmersal finished with 14 points and a career-high six boards while Price tallied 11 points, five caroms and a career-high six steals.

Defiance (5-7) returns to action on Wednesday, January 7, when it travels to HCAC foe Rose-Hulman. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.