Shooting Woes Sink Yellow Jackets in Non-Conference Action

DEFIANCE, OHIO – Early shooting woes sting the Yellow Jackets as they fall in non-conference action to area rival no. 7 Ohio Northern on Tuesday evening, 69-49.

Defiance (0-3 overall) was led in the contest by Rogers with a team-high 15 points, while Schalk chipped in 14 points and six assists.

In the first quarter, DC found themselves trailing early before back-to-back scores from junior Lauren Rogers (Munger, Mich./Bay City Central) cut the Yellow Jacket deficit to 8-7. The Polar Bears responded extending their lead following a 4-0 run to close out the opening period, 16-10.

 After being held scoreless for nearly five minutes, Rogers came through in the clutch sparking a Defiance 4-0 run to chip into the ONU lead with 7:39 to play, 20-14. However, the Northern offense responded connecting on consecutive layups to claim the 24-14 advantage.

Senior Whitney Schalk (Bellevue) looked to spark the Purple and Gold attack as she navigated the ONU defense with 2:48 to play in the half en route to and an one in the paint, 26-20. The Polar Bears would hold the ball for the final shot finding a layup down low for the halftime lead, 32-21.

The Yellow Jackets finished the first half shooting 8-of-28 from the field and 3-of-11 from behind the arc.

ONU wasted little time in the second half jumping to a 36-23 lead before the Defiance defense went to work forcing back-to-back turnovers resulting in scores from Schalk to enter the final period trailing 46-35.

Both teams struggled to find an offense early in the fourth quarter before the Polar Bears broke a four minute drought using a 7-0 run with 6:15 remaining to claim the 53-35 advantage. However, the Purple and Gold continued to battle as a ONU miscue resulted in a deep ball from senior Mekai White (Cincinnati/Winton Woods) cutting the deficit to 53-38. White made her presence on the court known as she again delivered the three-point ball from the corner with 4:37 to play, 55-41. The Orange and Black held off the charge to claim the road victory.

The Yellow Jackets return to action Tuesday, November 28 as they travel to Ohio Wesleyan. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.