Strong First Half Lifts Yellow Jackets Past Earlham

RICHMOND, IND. - The Defiance College women's basketball team picked up a thrilling overtime victory at Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Earlham on Wednesday evening, 73-71.

The Yellow Jackets were led in the game by senior Lauren Rogers (Munger, Mich./Bay City Central) with a team-high 17 points. The Purple and Gold finished the night shooting 23-of-57 from the floor including 11 three-pointers.

The Yellow Jackets dominated the contest early as they used a 14-0 run over a six minute span to take the 16-3 advantage. The Quakers looked to minimize the gap as back-to-back scores cut the deficit to 16-8 with just over two minutes remaining. However, the hot shooting continued for Defiance as senior Shelby Stamm (Bellevue) connected from long range to give DC the 21-10 first quarter lead.

In the second period, Earlham chipped away at the Purple and Gold advantage pulling within 21-14 before junior Liz Martin (Bellefontaine) made her way into the scores column knocking down a three-pointer with 6:39 remaining pushing the DC lead to 24-14. The Yellow Jackets would deliver two more daggers from deep as both Rogers and Martin connected extending the lead to 30-18. Defiance entered the break with a convincing 35-25 advantage.

Earlham opened the second half with back-to-back scores to pull within 35-29. The Quakers slowly began to chip at the DC lead as they used a 5-0 run to cut the advantage to 38-34 midway through the third quarter. However, sophomore Taylor Haines (Stryker) deemed clutch for the Yellow Jackets as she connected on a three-pointer that halted the Quakers. But again, Earlham hit back-to-back shots to end the period and pull within 49-41 with one period remaining in regulation.

In the final period of regulation, Earlham would erase the eight point deficit and tie the contest at 61-61 with just 41 seconds to play. Defiance found themselves trailing for the first time all game before a pair of made free-throws by Roger as time expired forced overtime with the contest knotted at 63-63.

In overtime, the Yellow jackets netted five quick points following efficient free-throw shooting by Stamm to push the advantage to 68-63. However, the Quakers came storming back as a layup in the paint and a made free-throw with 1:23 to played tied the contest once more. The Purple and Gold would seal the game at the free-throw line as Rogers again deemed clutch hitting a pair of free-throws to propel DC to the 73-71 victory.

The Purple and Gold return to action on Saturday, January 19 as they travel to Rose-Hulman. Tip off is set for 3:00 pm.