Manchester spoils home opener for Defiance women’s basketball

DEFIANCE, Ohio — The Defiance women's basketball team dropped their home and conference opener to visiting Manchester, 80-73, on Wednesday at the Karl H. Weaner Center.

The Spartans (4-2, 1-0 HCAC) shot 50 percent from the floor and knocked down 13 3-pointers to overcome 27 turnovers. The Yellow Jackets (1-3, 0-1 HCAC) were outrebounded, 39-29, and hit 43 percent of their shots.

The Yellow Jackets held a first quarter lead, 20-16, despite a slow start. Trailing 9-5 in the opening minutes, Defiance scored seven straight to get into rhythm and led by as many as six points early in the second quarter. Manchester stormed ahead in the last half of the second quarter to erase a 29-24 Defiance advantage with an 8-2 run and 13-7 rally to finish the half up by one, 37-36.

Defiance grabbed a five-point lead at the midway point of the third, but consecutive Spartan baskets to close the third stanza lifted Manchester from down one to up four points entering the last quarter. Manchester pulled away by as many as 11 with just over two minutes remaining before the Jackets closed the gap down the stretch.

Over half of Manchester's made field goals were from outside the arc (13-for-30, 25-for-50 overall) and they scored 17 more at the free throw line. Spartan freshman Hailee Kline led all scorers with 17 points with five triples. Fellow freshman Jessie Ringen (13) and Mia Shields (11) along with senior Bridget Nash (12) also had double digits in the scorebook in a season-best scoring night for Manchester and their third straight victory.

Most of Defiance's points were scored in the paint (40) thanks to a 15-point night by senior forward Lauren Criblez. The Jackets received 11 points each from fifth-year senior Taylor Day, senior Taylor Steinbrunner and freshman Kalista Friday. McKenzie Cooper narrowly missed double figures with nine points scored while Kylie Brinkman hit two of Defiance's five 3-pointers.

The Yellow Jackets return to action on Saturday for a conference clash with Franklin as part of a men's and women's doubleheader at the Weaner Center. The women's matchup is scheduled for 1 p.m. with the men's following at 3 p.m.

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