Steinbrunner and Sparks drop career-highs to spark win against Earlham

Junior Taylor Steinbrunner dropped 30 points while junior Lexie Sparks scored 21 points to each notch career-highs in a win against Earlham in HCAC action on Tuesday night, 83-74.

The Basics

• Records: Defiance (14-8, 9-6), Earlham (1-19, 1-12)
• Location: Karl H. Weaner Center - Defiance, Ohio
• Attendance: 350

Inside The Numbers

• Steinbrunner scored a team-high and career-best 30 points while grabbing six rebounds to lead the Yellow Jackets.
• Sparks dropped a career-high 21 points off the bench and notched eight rebounds.
• Senior Taylor Day added ten points to go along with five assists.
• Senior Nysha Speed chipped in eight points and recorded a game-high 12 rebounds.
• As a team, Defiance shot 32-of-73 (.438) from the field and went 11-of-30 (.367) from behind the arc.
• Janaiya Bright led Earlham with 30 points.
• As a team, the Quakers went 29-of-68 (.426) from the floor and shot 3-of-15 (.200) from the three-point line.

The Difference

• Both teams battled in the first half each scoring 22 points heading into the second quarter.
• Each team couldn't gain a large lead for the rest of the first half and saw Defiance take a slight 42-41.
• The Yellow Jackets used 25-18 third quarter to take a 67-59 lead into the all important fourth quarter.
• Defiance began to pull away from the Quakers near the end of the contest and even saw there largest lead of the game at 80-67.
• Steinbrunner scored ten points in the fourth quarter to help pull away with the victory, 83-74.
• The Yellow Jackets dominated on the boards, 48-30.
• Defiance shared the wealth with an edge in assists, 21-7.
• The Yellow Jackets saw their bench boost their play and outscore Earlham, 28-19.

Up Next

• The Yellow Jackets next hit the road in their regular season finale as they take on rival Bluffton on Friday, February 18. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.