Strong First Half Propels DC Past Manchester

DEFIANCE, OHIO - The Defiance College Yellow Jackets used a strong first half to propel them past the Manchester University Spartans on Wednesday evening in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Confrence action at the Karl H. Weaner Center.

The Purple and Gold saw three players reach double figures in freshman Taylor Day (West Mansfield/North Union), senior Sam Ervin (Bloomdale/Elmwood), and junior Danielle Carruthers (New London). Day led the way for Defiance with a career and game-high 18 points, while Ervin added 16 and Carruthers chipped in 12.

Defiance wasted little time making a statement early as back-to-back scores by Day gave the Yellow Jackets the early 12-5 advantage. The hot shooting continued for the Purple and Gold as Carruthers connected in the paint to extend the DC lead to 18-8 in the opening period. Manchester looked to get something going as they strung together a small run that was haulted by senior Lauren Rogers 9Munger, Mich./Bay City Cnetral) propelling Defiance to the 22-16 first quarter advantage.

In the second period, sophomore Kalyn Pickens (Fort Wayne, Ind./R. Nelson Snider) made her way into the scores column as she connect from deep to give the Yellow Jackets the 25-16 lead. The dominate first half continued for Defiance as back-to-back scores by Ervin and Day blew the game open with just 3:17 remaining, 33-20. Senior Ashley Lee (Millington, Mich.) would provide clutch for the Purple and Gold late as she came off the bench for another deep ball score that but Defiance on top 40-30 at the intermission.

The Yellow Jackets stumbled a bit in the third as the Spartans held Defiance scoreless for nearly seven minutes before junior Shelby Stamm (Bellevue) connected on a free-throw ending the scoreless drought, 43-35. Manchester went on to out score DC in the period 11-7 to cut the deficit to 47-41.

In the final period of action, DC deemed clutch from the free-throw line as a pair of made free-throws by Ervin, Day, and Carruthers pushed the DC lead to 59-51. Lee would seal the victory for Defiance as she connected from the charity stride to give DC it largest lead en route to the 69-55 victory.

As a team, the Yellow Jackets shot 20-of-58 from the floor, including 25-of-29 from the free-throw line. 

Defiance returns to action on Saturday, January 26 as they play host to Franklin College. Tip off is set for 2:00 p.m.