Women's Basketball Defeats MSJ in Pivotal HCAC Match-Up

DEFIANCE, OHIO - The Defiance College women's basketball team picked up a pivotal Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory on Saturday afternoon, defeating Mount St. Joseph 74-59, keeping their post season hopes alive.

The Yellow Jackets were led in the game by senior Lauren Rogers (Munger, Mich.) with a game-high 23 points, including three, three-pointers. Senior Sam Ervin (Bloomdale/Elmwood) added 10 points, while junior Shelby Stamm (Bellevue) chipped in 18 points.

With the victory, the Defiance College Yellow Jackets move into sole possession of sixth place in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. 

Defiance took the lead early in the contest as Rogers and Stamm drained back-to-back three-pointers. The Lions would claw their way back into the game as they tied the contest minutes later and eventually captured the first lead 13-10 with 4:22 remaining in the period. They would push the advantage to 17-10 before the Yellow Jacket offensive attack came alive, led once more by Rogers with a momentum shifting three-pointer to close out the period.

In the second period, Mount St. Joseph continued to hang around when sophomore Taylor Haines (Stryker) connected from deep to spark an 8-0 run that gave DC the 28-21 advantage midway through the quarter. The hot shooting continued for the Purple and Gold when Rogers and Stamm again teamed up for back-to-back deep threats extending the lead to 39-24. Ervin would claim the final two points before half as she connected on a pair of free throws that put DC on top 43-26.

The Yellow Jackets used the momentum to open the second half as Ervin drained her first three-pointer of the contest with 4:49 to play in the period, 49-30. Defiance would string together another run late in the period led by Stamm to push the advantage to 55-36. Freshman Nysha Speed (Sterling Heights, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North) found the final score of the period as she hit a layup in the lane giving DC the 57-39 lead. 

Mount St. Joseph looked to stage a fourth quarter comeback cutting the deficit to 61-50 with 5:44 to play when the duo of Stamm and Rogers linked up once more halting the Lions en route to the key HCAC victory.

Following the contest, Defiance recognized Kelsey Tietje and Tom Postema as members of the HCAC All-Decade Team. 

The Purple and Gold return to action on Wednesday, February 6 as they travel to area rival Bluffton. Tip-off is secheduled for 6 p.m.