DC Suffers Loss to Hanover in Final Seconds

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance dropped a 91-90 heartbreaker to Hanover College on Saturday, January 24, as Holly Vogel hit the game-winner with three seconds left on the clock. The Jackets climbed back from a 17-point second half deficit, but for the second straight game were unable to complete the comeback.

Hanover opened the second half on a 30-16 spurt to take a 71-54 advantage with just under 11 minutes remaining in the contest. DC chipped away at the Panther's lead over the next eight minutes, as Holly Stein capped off a 27-9 run with a pair of free throws to give Defiance its first lead, 81-80, since the 11:25 mark in the opening period.

The final three minutes of the contest saw four lead changes, as the two teams matched each other basket-for-basket down the stretch. Trailing by three with 1:14 remaining, the Jackets scored four straight points on a bucket by Stein and Shavonda Price's steal and breakaway layup to grab an 89-88 advantage with 34 ticks on the clock. Hanover would go on to tie the game 13 seconds later on a Chelle Bentz free throw, setting up a breathtaking ending.

Stein was able to draw a foul following a Defiance timeout, giving the sophomore guard two shots with 11 seconds left. Stein drilled her first free throw to give DC a one-point lead, however, her second shot rimmed out opening the door for Vogel, who went coast-to-coast for a layup to help the Panthers walk away with the victory.

Defiance was not able to keep the Panthers off the glass, as Hanover pulled down 18 offensive boards on its way to a 47-33 rebounding advantage. Hanover attempted a whopping 45 shots from the line in the contest, making two more free throws (26) than DC attempted (24).

The Jackets, who finished with nine trifectas, knocked down seven three-pointers in the first half, led by Tasha Stucke's three-of-three shooting from the beyond the arc in the period. Defiance shot 45.6 percent from the field, including 50 percent shooting in the final stanza.

Stein, one of four DC players in double-figures, finished with a team-high 20 points on five-of-nine shooting from the field. Mandie White was eight-of-ten from the charity stripe on her way to a season-high 14 points. Brooke Zachrich tallied 11 points and three assists, while Price dropped in ten points and a pair of blocks and steals.

Defiance returns to action on Wednesday, January 28, when it travels to Lima, Ohio to face NAIA foe Northwestern Ohio. The Jackets will look to snap a five-game skid in their final non-conference game of the season.