King records monster night on the boards in loss at Anderson

ANDERSON, Ind. - The Defiance College women's basketball team dropped a 76-52 decision Wednesday night at Anderson in their first road contest in three weeks. Zadria King had a huge night on the boards, grabbing a career high 17. 

The Yellow Jackets fall to 0-18 overall and 0-11 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Anderson improves to 9-9 overall and 5-6 in the HCAC while sweeping the season series against the Yellow Jackets. 

TURNING POINT

After a Karrie Smith jump shot tied the game at two 50 seconds into the game, Anderson went on a 10-0 run over the course of the next 4:29 to take control of the game. The strong start by the Ravens propelled them for the wire-to-wire victory in which they led from start to finish. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

When the Yellow Jackets trailed by 10, Addy Allen knocked down a three to stop the 10-0 run by the Ravens, but Makynlee Taylor answered with a three of her own to make it a 10-point game again, 15-5. The Yellow Jackets outscored the Ravens 6-2 over the final 38 seconds of the opening period to trail by eight going into the second quarter. DC got four points from Zadria King and two from Ali Mowen. 

The two teams traded baskets to begin the second quarter before back-to-back layups gave the Ravens a 25-14 lead with 6:56 remaining in the half. DC trailed by as many as 15 in the second quarter and two free throws by King at the end of the first half made it a 37-27 deficit for the Yellow Jackets at the half. Despite shooting just 20 percent from the floor in the first half, the Yellow Jackets went 12-for-12 at the free throw line to remain within striking distance.

The Yellow Jackets started the second half with six turnovers and three missed shots which allowed the Ravens to extend their lead to 17, 44-27. Karrie Smith and Lauren Smith traded three-pointers, but the Ravens still held a commanding 53-32 lead with 3:48 remaining in the third quarter. Anderson led by as many as 23 in the period, but the Yellow Jackets closed the quarter on a 6-0 run as Addy Allen and Ali Mowen knocked down back-to-back from long range to close the period. 

The Ravens started the fourth quarter with four straight points to extend the lead back to 20, and outscored the Yellow Jackets 20-12 in the period.

BRINGING THE STING

• Zadria King led the team with 14 points and 17 rebounds. The 17 rebounds is a career best.

• King also recorded the only block of the game for the Yellow Jackets.

• Karrie Smith and Ali Mowen each pitched in with double digit scoring efforts, Smith with 11 and Mowen with 10. 

• Smith led the team with four steals and King and Mowen each recorded three assists.

• Teagan Hunt tied a season and career high with two assists.

• As a team, the 94.4 percent from the free throw line (17-for-18) is a season best.

UP NEXT

The Yellow Jackets travel to Franklin this Saturday (Jan.27) for a doubleheader. The women tipoff at 1 p.m. with the men's game to follow.