Women's Basketball opens 2022 with win over Heidelberg

The Defiance women's basketball team extended their winning streak to three games with a 66-59 non-conference win over Heidelberg on New Year's Day. 

The Basics

• Records: Defiance (7-3), Heidelberg (2-9)
• Location: Karl H. Weaner Center - Defiance, Ohio
• Attendance: 250

Inside The Numbers

• Senior Nysha Speed recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds while also recording a pair of steals.
• Senior Taylor Day added 12 points off the bench, a new season-high.
• Junior Nicole Sims recorded seven points along with five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
• Junior Taylor Steinbrunner had eight points, four assists, and three steals.
• Sophomore McKenzie Cooper led all players with four steals and added six points in a solid performance off the bench.
• As a team, Defiance went 23-of-58 (.397) from the field and shot 3-of-12 (.250) from behind the arc.
• Lily Sweeney led the Student Princes in scoring with 16 points.
• Morgan Altenburger paced Heidelberg in rebounds with nine and steals with three while adding 11 points.
• Hallie Rogers scored 11 points and recorded three rebounds, two steals, two assists, and two blocks.
• As a team, Heidelberg made 21-of-53 (.396) of their shots and went 9-of-19 (.474) from long range.

The Difference

• The Yellow Jackets led for the majority of the first quarter with the Student Princes leading just once early in the period.
• Heidelberg reclaimed the lead twice late in the second quarter before Speed converted two clutch free throws to give the Yellow Jackets a 31-30 lead at the half.
• Defiance extended the lead to double-digits in the third quarter outscoring the Student Princes 24-15 in the frame.
• The Purple and Golden held off a Heidelberg comeback attempt in the fourth to secure the 66-59 victory.
• Defiance forced 23 turnovers and had four players record multiple steals.
• The Yellow Jackets went 17-of-23 (.739) from the free-throw line led by Day who made five of her six shots and sophomore Cait Good who went 5-for-5 from the charity stripe.
• Day and Good, along with Cooper and junior Lexie Sparks helped the Defiance bench outscore their opponents 29-15.
• Defiance dominated in the paint, outscoring Heidelberg 32-18.

Up Next

• The Yellow Jackets will look to extend their winning streak to four games on Wednesday, January 5 when they host HCAC rival Bluffton. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.