Madonna slides past Defiance 59-47 Wednesday

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance Yellow Jackets suffered a loss on Wednesday night against the Madonna Crusaders at the Karl H. Weaner center. 

The Yellow Jackets (0-8, 0-4 WHAC) managed to keep it close throughout the game but a late surge for the Crusaders (6-3, 1-3 WHAC) helped them put it away 59-47. 

The game started with the two teams trading buckets including three's by Makaiya Thomas and Ali Mowen as the score was even at eight in the first couple minutes of the game. The Yellow Jackets went cold however as the Crusaders were able to capitalize on mistakes giving Madonna a 20-10 lead at the end of the first. 

Down by 11, the Yellow Jackets rattled off a 6-point run, putting them right back in the game. They played solid defense to shut the Crusaders down for much of the second quarter. Madonna went into the half leading by seven but the Yellow Jackets were hot on their trail. 

THE TURNING POINT 

With neither team being able to find the basket in the third quarter as solid defense was on display, Makaiya Thomas hit another three for the Yellow Jackets to cut the Crusader lead to seven. Madonna however rattled off six-straight unanswered in the last minute and a half of the third quarter putting the game out of reach for Defiance. The Yellow Jackets managed to once again cut the lead down to seven in the fourth quarter but ran out of time and steam, with Delani Robinson making a shot from deep for the Crusaders putting them up by 11 with three minutes to play, sealing the deal. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

● The Yellow Jackets were 5 of 6 from three at halftime and finished the game 7 of 13 

● Ali Mowen led the team in minutes, assists, and threes as she played all 40, dished out five assists, and three from deep. 

● Chandler Duncan had a team high 12 points, going 2 of 4 from three. ● Makaiya Thomas picked several pockets as she had four steals creating havoc when she could. 

● Na'lani Williams made her presence felt down low as she brought down 12 rebounds. 

● Delani Robinson for the Crusaders was 5 of 7 from three with the rest of the Crusaders going a combined 1 of 7

UP NEXT 

The Yellow Jackets travel to Cornerstone University on Saturday, tipoff at 1:00 P.M.

-JACKETS-