DC Falls in Low-Scoring Battle with Trine

DEFIANCE, OHIO -- The Defiance College women's basketball team was outscored, 14-5, in the final quarter to fall to Trine (Ind.) University, 52-38, in a non-conference tilt at the Karl H. Weaner Center.

Defiance (4-5) was led in scoring by senior Kelsey Tietje (Deshler/Patrick Henry), who recorded her ninth double-double in as many games with 11 points and 15 rebounds on the night. Senior guard Ashley Williams (Ottawa/Pandora-Gilboa) added 10 points in the losing effort.

The Yellow Jackets shot just 24.4 percent (11-of-45) from the floor and 26.7 percent (four-of-15) from beyond the arc, while the Thunder finished the game shooting at a 36.2 percent clip (21-of-58). The Thunder outrebounded the Yellow Jackets, 43-38, while also committing 10 less turnovers (24-14).

Trine (8-1) opened the game with a 9-3 advantage, with the lone Yellow Jacket field goal of the quarter coming on a triple from Williams to begin the contest. Trine extended the lead to 11-5 before two freebies by senior Erica Smay (Defiance/Tinora) gave Trine an 11-7 lead after one quarter.

Trine got the lead back to seven before a bucket from Tietje and another Williams three-pointer brought DC to within two points at 14-12. The Thunder bounced their advantage to six points before a layup by junior Whitney Schalk (Bellevue) and a three from fellow junior Mekai White (Cincinnati/Winton Woods), followed by a split at the charity stripe from Tietje tied the game at 18-18. About a minute later, Trine scored on a fastbreak jumper that was followed by another triple by Williams which put the Yellow Jackets ahead, 21-20, at the break.

Williams started the scoring in the third quarter with a jumper that extended the DC lead to three points, but Trine then scored the next six points to go back on top, 26-23, three minutes into the third period. The lead then bounced back-and-forth between two and four points for much of the quarter, but it would jump to seven late. Tietje made two freebies to end the stanza for DC to narrow the gap to 38-33 after three periods.

The fourth quarter would be all Trine, who scored the first eight points to go up by 13. The spurt was finally stopped by a lay-in from Williams that made the score, 46-35, with 5:26 to play. Trine extended its margin to 14 points, their largest of the game before each team exchanged free-throws to end the contest, giving Trine a 52-38 win.

Defiance will return to action after the holidays with a trip to Adrian, Mich. to take on Adrian College in non-conference action. The game is set to tip-off at 6 p.m.