Yellow Jacket Offense Slowed by Pioneers

LEXINGTON, KY. - The Defiance College women's basketball team made the southern trip to Transylvania University on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers offense proved too much for the Yellow Jackets, topping DC 101-51. 

Offensively, Defiance was led by Kalyn Pickens (Fort Wayne, Ind. / R. Nelson Snider) with eight points. Taylor Haines (Stryker / Stryker) and Nysha Speed (Sterling Heights, Mich. / L'Anse Creuse North) followed the sophomore with seven points each. The Sterling Heights native also contributed eight rebounds in the effort. 

The Pioneer offense quickly found their footing in the game, jumping out to a 9-2 lead three minutes into the first quarter. The Yellow Jackets looked to begin closing the early lead via jumpers from Taylor Day (West Mansfield / North Union) and Speed. At the end of the first quarter, the home side had extended their lead to 29-10. 

An early scoring stretch for the hosts had the second half momentum staying on the side of the Pioneers. A Haines three-pointer and a pair of Sam Ervin (Bloomdale / Elmwood) free throws had the deficit under 20 as the teams neard halftime. 

The third quarter saw a five point for the Yellow Jackets, four of which coming from the charity stripe. DC shot a game-high 78.6% from the line in the HCAC battle. 

In the fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets matched their third period tally with 12 more points. Back-to-back three pointers from Liz Martin (Bellefontaine / Bellefontaine) and Sideny Faine (Bluffton / Ada) had the score standing at 46-80 with eight minutes remaining in the contest. The Pioneers found one last stretch of scoring in the affair to complete the victory for the hosts. 

The loss brings Defiance's record to 8-15 overall, with a 7-9 HCAC mark. After the contest, DC stood firmly in fifth place in the HCAC standings. With just two games remaining, the Yellow Jackets will continue their push for HCAC postseason action Wednesday, Feb. 13, as they welcome Earlham College to the Karl H. Weaner Center.