Duncan notches 23 points in DC’s home-opening loss to UNOH

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance College Yellow Jackets women's basketball team opened their home season against conference opponent Northwestern Ohio on Wednesday evening at Karl H. Weaner Center, as the Racers defeated the Yellow Jackets 85-63.

UNOH's Alysia Lawson put up the first points of the contest, which was quickly followed by a 2-point field goal by Makaiya Thomas to even the score. Candyce Hollins fouled Racers' Jayci Allen to put her at the free-throw line, shooting and making both shots, but their lead faded when Defiance's Ali Mowen pulled up from outside the arc to put her team up 5-4. For the remainder of the first quarter, Yellow Jacket fouls set UNOH up at the line two more times, but Defiance made its first three 3-pointers to keep it close. 

The first-quarter lead changed nine times before the Racers began to build a small advantage in the final two minutes, ahead of Defiance 19-14 heading into the second. In the second, 10-minute period of play, scoring went back-and-forth until the Yellow Jackets trailed by a single point. However, eight-team fouls allowed for UNOH to continue advancing their lead by going on a 13-3 scoring run in the final 4-and-a-half minutes of the first half, additionally hitting 8-of-13 free-throw shots.

Chandler Duncan led Defiance in the first half with 12 points — just a point shy of her game high of 13 — as she went 4-for-4 from 3-point range. The Yellow Jackets combined for 54.5% shooting from beyond the arc in the first half to UNOH's 20%. 

Beginning the third, the Racers led DC 47-30 and jumped out with seven more points to add. Defiance started to cut into Northwestern Ohio's lead little by little until they reached a 20-point deficit, however, DC's nine second-half turnovers contributed to points for the Racers, keeping the margin wide. Their lead became steady. 

With 43 seconds remaining in the contest, a Jourdyn Wynn layup brought it back to 20 points when a final UNOH shot ended the game. 

THE TURNING POINT

The Yellow Jackets put out their most productive quarter of the season in the first 10 minutes of play against Northwestern Ohio. With nine lead changes, assisted by two 3-pointers from Ali Mowen and Chandler Duncan's first of the night, DC's range scoring started to become a challenge for the Racers. UNOH's five-consecutive buckets to begin its lead chipped into the Yellow Jacket momentum for the remainder of the game. 

A CLOSER LOOK

• Defiance scored 30 first-half points, the highest of the season

• Chandler Duncan scored a career-high 23 points, including going 5-of-7 from beyond the arc

• Na'lani Williams notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds

• Ali Mowen had nine points, all from 3-point range

• Defiance outshot Northwestern Ohio from three going 50% compared to their 27.3%

• The Racers committed four more fouls compared to the Yellow Jackets, 20-16

UP NEXT

DC will return to its home court Saturday at 1 p.m. in a feat against the Lourdes Gray Wolves. The men will follow at 3 p.m. 

-JACKETS-