Defiance Drops Season Finale to Franklin

FRANKLIN, Ind. – Defiance's second half woes proved to be the difference in its 79-66 loss to Franklin College on Saturday, February 21. The Jackets finish their 2008-09 campaign with a 9-16 overall record and a 5-11 mark in the HCAC.

The Jackets jumped out to a 16-9 advantage in the, behind a pair three-pointers from freshman Jenna Deskins. Franklin pulled within three on back-to-back scores, but Defiance would catch fire over the next eight minutes of the game.

DC blew the game open with a 17-6 run, as Holly Stein's trifecta gave the Jackets a 33-19 lead. DC never trailed in the first half, using 11 second-chance points to control the first 15 minutes of the game. However, the Grizzlies closed the half with an impressive run of their own, outscoring Defiance 18-4 in the final five minutes to tie the game at 37 at the break.

Franklin got its first lead of the game on the first possession of the second half, but Katie Carunchia answered with a trey to put the Jackets back in front in what was shaping up to be a see-saw battle. The first 11 minutes of the final stanza saw seven lead changes, before a cold spell by Defiance turned the tide.

The Jackets scored just five points over the next eight minutes, as the Grizzlies took advantage of their 62.5 percent shooting in the period to build up a 14-point lead, 75-61, during that span. Heather Harper spearheaded the Grizzlies' push, scoring 15 of her game-high 24 points in the final nine minutes to help the Grizzlies wrap up the contest.

Defiance struggled on the blocks, losing the rebounding battle 48-33 while being outscored 46-28 in the paint. For the second consecutive contest, the Jackets were hurt at the charity stripe, where Franklin outscored DC by 12 while attempting 15 more free throws.  DC was able to force 22 turnovers, while tallying eight steals on the day.

White led the Jackets for the second-straight game, dropping in 17 points and eight rebounds. Carunchia scored 12 of her career-high 16 points in the second half, while Stein added 11 points and a pair of steals. Stucke led DC with six helpers and four steals.