Friday pours in career high as Yellow Jackets top Hiram

Defiance women's basketball earned their second straight win Thursday night as the Yellow Jackets defeated Hiram 68-54. Freshman Kalista Friday scored a career high 18 points off the bench and also came away with three steals, two rebounds, and three assists.

The Basics:

• Records: Defiance (3-5) Hiram (4-4)

• Location: Price Gymnasium - HIram, Ohio

Inside The Numbers:

• Friday scored seven of her 18 points from the foul line.

• Taylor Steinbrunner and Lexie Sparks both finished in double figures, Steinbrunner with 14 and Sparks with 12.

• Nicole Sims corralled a team high seven rebounds and had a team high four assists.

• Taylor Day had three steals off the bench.

• Defiance held Hiram to only 29% shooting from the floor.

• Defiance got 44 points from their bench compared to only 12 for Hiram.

• The Yellow Jackets forced 22 turnovers.

• Brooke Hickman recorded a double-double for Hiram with 19 points and 11 rebounds. 

• Hiram had a +11 advantage in rebounds.

The Breakdown:

• Both teams did not shoot the ball well in the first quarter. Defiance shot 23% from the floor and Hiram finished 25% in the quarter. Three of Hiram's five field goals in the first quarter were from downtown and the Terriers led 13-10 going into the second quarter.

• The Yellow Jackets stormed back in the second quarter, outscoring Hiram 22-13 to take a six point lead into halftime. 

• Defiance went on a 15-2 run that spanned five minutes to take a ten point lead but Hiram closed the half on a 4-0 run to cut the deficit to six.

• Defiance hit two three-pointers and shot 53% from the floor in the second quarter to help the Jackets seize the advantage.

• The Yellow Jackets started the second half on a 9-2 run that was sparked by McKenzie Cooper and Taylor Steinbrunner to extend the lead to 13 points at 41-28. Cooper converted a four point play and Steinbrunner scored the next five with a three and a jump shot.

• Defiance controlled the third quarter and led 48-35 going into the final quarter.

• Hiram cut the lead to 10 with a little over six minutes remaining but Kalista Friday stopped the momentum when she stole a pass and converted the fastbreak layup. Friday would score seven straight points to give the Yellow Jackets a 61-46 lead with 4:40 left in the game.

• Defiance closed out the game by hitting their free throws down the stretch.

Up Next:

• The women's basketball team returns home Sunday, December 11, as they host The College of Wooster with tip-off set for 1pm from the Karl H. Weaner Center.