Jackets Bounce NAIA Div. II No. 16 Brescia in Consolation Game

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance overcame an early shooting slump to claim an 85-74 victory against one of the top teams in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, Brescia University, on Saturday. DC exploded with 56 second-half points to end the Pro Rehab – Hubbard Co. Tournament with a big win.

Molly Bateman hit the game's first field goal and Brooke Zachrich hit a pair of free throws at the 18:00 mark that gave DC an early 4-0 lead, but from that point, the Jackets went on an extended drought that saw 13-consecutive missed field goal attempts over a span of seven minutes. DC's Ashley Birchmeier hit a jumper in the lane with 10:47 showing to snap the drought, and bring the Jackets within three points of a Brescia team that was struggling from the field as well.   

DC's largest deficit came with eight minutes remaining in the first half, after a woeful two-for-23 shooting performance put Defiance down by 10, but still very much in the game thanks to some stingy defense and a season-high 33 first-half rebounds. The Jackets trailed, 24-14, with six minutes remaining in the half, before going on a furious, 15-0, run that was capped off by a Molly Bateman jumper, sending Defiance into halftime with a five-point lead.

The run continued into the second half, as DC recorded five unanswered points in the first 45 seconds to conclude a 20-point swing. With the momentum decidedly in their favor, the Lady Jackets found their offensive rhythm, shooting 61.3 percent from the field, including 54.4 percent from long range, on their way to a season-high 56 points in the frame. Brescia would not go down quietly, scoring 50 points in the period behind 29 second-half points from Brittany Bird, but there would be no catching the Lady Jackets, who got huge second-half production from Bateman, Erica King and Hannah Harshman.

Bateman recorded 19 second-half points to add to her career-high 23 points in the contest. King and Harshman recorded 13 points apiece in the frame to help preserve a double-digit lead for most of the period.

Bateman was selected to represent Defiance on the Pro Rehab – Hubbard Co. All-Tournament Team, along with Brescia's Brittany Bird, Allegheny's Ann Ryan, and Indiana Wesleyan's Elaine Hessel and Krystal Stoneking.

The Lady Jackets will get an 11-day break before returning to action on Thursday, Dec. 30, at The College of Wooster (1-8). Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.