Defiance Lets Early Lead Slip Away in Loss to Anderson

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance was unable to overcome a scoring drought in the second half, falling 75-62 to the HCAC-leading Ravens of Anderson University. The Jackets fall to 7-14 on the season, while dropping to 3-9 in HCAC action.

Defiance opened the game on a 7-2, after holding Anderson scoreless on five of its first six possessions. However, the Ravens would begin to heat up, causing a seesaw battle that saw six lead changes in the final 10 minutes of the first half.

Mandie White dominated the paint in the first half, pouring in 15 points and 11 rebounds in the opening 20 minutes. Defiance hit four three-pointers in the final six minutes of the half, including Brooke Zachrich's trifecta with nine seconds left in the period to give the Jackets a 37-34 at the break.

Zachrich carried over that momentum to the second half, opening the period with DC's first six points to key an 8-1 spread that gave the Jackets their largest lead of the game, 45-35. Defiance went cold over the next ten minutes and the Ravens took advantage. Anderson used DC's dry spell to help close out the game on a 40-17 spurt.

Defiance managed just 28.6 percent shooting in the second half, while the Ravens knocked down 52 percent of their shots from the field in the period. The Jackets, who came into the game averaging over 16 offensive boards per contest, recorded only 10 offensive rebounds, losing the rebounding battle 44-35.

White led DC with game-high 20 points on eight-of-ten shooting from the field. Shavonda Price added 11 points and seven caroms, while Zachrich finished with nine points, three assists and three steals. Defiance got a season-low 11 points from its bench, as Doumanian's reserves entered the contest combining for nearly 30 points a night.

Defiance will be back in action on Wednesday, February 11, when it hosts Mount St. Joseph at 7:30 p.m. DC will need a victory over the Lions to stay alive in the HCAC Tournament hunt.