Comden Caps Big Second Half with Game-Winning Shot at MSJ

CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Lady Jackets picked up a crucial conference victory over the Lions of Mount St. Joseph on Saturday to move into a tie for fourth place with a 3-3 record in the HCAC. DC's win was its third in its last four contests, and its first time this season to win a game by a single-digit margin.

In its four previous victories going into Saturday's match, Defiance's average margin of victory was 13.8, with its slimmest margin coming in an 11-point win over Brescia in the Pro Rehab – Hubbard Co. Tournament. Saturday's contest broke that trend, and marked just the second time this season the team has recorded a win after going into halftime with a deficit.

Mount St. Joseph shot 48.5 percent from the field and held a slim lead for the majority of the contest, but could not pull away from the Lady Jackets, who continued to hit shots at critical moments, and never allowed the Lions to extend their lead past five points. The biggest difference in the game came at the free-throw line, where Defiance outscored the Lions by a count of 13-3 for the contest, and went six-of-six in the second half to catch the Lions, who made just 37.5 percent of their shots from the charity stripe.

DC's Erica King recorded all 12 of her points in the second half, and knocked down her second three-pointer of the period with 1:07 remaining to tie the game, 71-71. DC's defense got a stop on the next trip down the floor, and took its first lead of the game with just 11 second remaining, when Kim Comden hit a layup to give the Jackets a 73-71 lead. The Lions were unable to answer with a desperation three-pointer, and DC walked away with its fourth-straight road win.

Kim Comden went five-of-six from the field for ten points in the second half alone, and ended the game with 12 points and a game-high six rebounds. Tasha Stucke matched Comden's six boards, and chipped in nine points, four assists and three steals while keeping a zero in the turnover column. The Lady Jackets are now 5-0 this season when recording fewer turnovers than their opponents.

Defiance will look to break out of its slump at home this season, when it hosts conference newcomers, Earlham College (0-13, 0-6 HCAC), at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 12.