Women’s Basketball Cage Beavers in Clash of Rivals

BLUFFTON, OHIO – The Defiance College women's basketball team dominated area rival Bluffton on Wednesday evening in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action to keep their post-season hopes alive, 68-50.

Senior Lauren Rogers (Munger, Mich./Bay City Central) set the tone early for the Yellow Jackets as she finished the contest with a game-high 20 points, including 11 first-half points. Senior Sam Ervin (Bloomdale/Elmwood) added 18 points, while junior Shelby Stamm (Bellevue) and freshman Taylor Day (West Mansfield/North Union)netted 11 points.

As a team, Defiance shot 27-of-55 (49.1 %) from the floor, including seven three-pointers.

The two teams exchanged points for much of the first quarter before Rogers took over connecting for a deep threat with 6:18 to play that put DC on top for the remainder of the contest. She continued her hot streak as she sparked a Defiance run that pushed the advantage to 20-15 following the open period of action.

The Purple and Gold wasted little time establishing their offense in the second period as sophomore Taylor Haines (Stryker) navigated the defense for the jumper in the lane with 9:45 to play, 22-15. Bluffton tried to erase the deficit when Day deemed clutch sparking a Defiance 8-0 run to enter the break that gave DC the convincing 30-18 halftime advantage.

The domination continued in the second half as Rogers again delivered a strike from downtown that pushed the lead to 33-20. Day and Ervin got in on the action as they too delivered dimes that extended the lead with 3:59 remaining, 43-27. The Yellow Jackets would land a pair of free-throws in the final seconds to enter the final period with the double digit lead, 51-33.

In the final period of play, the Beavers tried to get something going as they pulled within 53-42 before another Rogers step back halted the charge with 6:02 remaining, 55-42. The Purple and Gold sealed the game at the free-throw line in the final minutes to claim the 68-50 victory.

The Yellow Jackets return to action on Saturday, February 9 as they travel to Transylvania. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m.