Women's Basketball storms back to defeat rival Bluffton in double overtime in season finale

Defiance College women's basketball stormed back Friday night to defeat rival Bluffton in double overtime, 85-82, in the season finale for the Yellow Jackets as they did not qualify for the conference tournament.

The Basics:

• Records: Defiance (9-16, 6-12) Bluffton (15-9, 10-8)

• Location: Karl H. Weaner Center - Defiance, Ohio

Inside The Numbers:

• Kalista Friday led Defiance with a career-high 21 points off the bench.

• McKenzie Cooper finished with a double-double, 15 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.

• Lexie Sparks finished with 12 points and Cait Good pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds.

• Sammy Shardo led Bluffton with five made threes and 23 points off the bench.

• Maddie Fitzpatrick and Lacie Fenstermaker each grabbed eight rebounds for the Beavers.

• Defiance outrebounded Bluffton 58-42 and had a 23-6 advantage in second chance points.

First Half:

• Bluffton's Katie Neuhart started the scoring with a layup and Bluffton would lead the entire first quarter.

• Taylor Steinbrunner got Defiance on the board but Bluffton still started strong, leading 7-2 with 6:48 left in the first quarter.

• Kyla Columber gave the Beavers a 17-7 lead but Aliza Clark would answer with a jump shot and Defiance trailed 17-9 after the first quarter.

• Sammy Shardo immediately gave Bluffton a double digit lead nine seconds into the second quarter.

• Two free throws from Morgan Smith gave Bluffton a 27-16 lead with 3:10 left until halftime.

• Defiance answered and closed the half with a 6-1 run. McKenzie Cooper and Kalista Friday scored for the Yellow Jackets during the run and Bluffton would take a 28-22 lead into halftime.

Second Half:

• A layup from Lexie Sparks got Defiance within six with 8:13 left in the third quarter.

• Lauren Criblez brought the Yellow Jackets within two with 5:27 left in the third quarter.

• Maddie Fitzpatrick had an answer and the Beavers extended their lead back to five.

• Bluffton would continue to hold a slim advantage and led 50-44 heading into the fourth quarter.

• Bluffton led 56-46 with 7:41 left in the game after a three from Kyla Columber.

• The Yellow Jackets would answer with an 8-0 run to get within two. Kalista Friday, Lexie Sparks, and McKenzie Cooper contributed during the run.

• Olivia Zender hit two free throws to give Bluffton a 61-56 lead with 58 seconds remaining in regulation.

• Addy Allen answered with a big three to bring the deficit to two again.

• Friday knocked down two clutch free throws to tie the game at 61 with nine seconds remaining. Both teams had opportunities to win the game in regulation but couldn't convert and the two teams would enter overtime tied at 61.

First Overtime:

• Bluffton struck first and would lead 65-61 with 3:48 left after a three from Sammy Shardo.

• The Yellow Jackets would answer with seven straight points and take a 68-65 lead with 1:04 left after Taylor Day converted a layup.

• Sammy Shardo knocked down a three to give the Beavers a 70-68 lead with 10 seconds left.

• Morgan Smith fouled Cait Good with one second remaining and Good hit both free throws to send the game to double overtime.

Second Overtime:

• The two teams traded baskets for the first two minutes and McKenzie Cooper drained a three to give the Yellow Jackets a 75-74 lead with 3:08 left.

• The Yellow Jackets would never relinquish that lead.

• Bluffton's Sammy Shardo tied the game at 80 with 1:15 left.

• Aliza Clark answered with a huge bucket for the Yellow Jackets.

• The Beavers tied the game again with 28 seconds left after two free throws from Sammy Shardo.

• Cait Good would win it for Defiance with a layup off of a missed jumper from Cooper.

• Morgan Smith missed the game-tying jump shot for the Beavers and they were forced to foul.

• McKenize Cooper made the first free throw, missed the second, and Kayla Prigge's full court heave was way off the mark.