HCAC Coaches Select Lady Jacket Basketball to Finish Fourth

GREENWOOD, Ind. – After taking fourth place during the 2012-13 regular season, the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference has chosen the Defiance women's basketball team to finish in the same position this winter.

Reigning regular season HCAC Champion Transylvania was anointed to the top spot with seven first-place votes and 94 points overall. Following them were Franklin with 84 and HCAC tournament champion Hanover with 79. The Yellow Jackets received 65 points in the coach's poll to round out the top four.

DC loses a trio of seniors from last year's squad, including Kim Comden who led the team in field goal percentage, rebounds, blocks and points. Fortunately, the Jackets bring back three starters, five total returners and an experienced senior class.  

Making the HCAC Player-to-Watch list for the Purple and Gold were seniors Erica King (Pettisville, Ohio/Pettisville) and Hannah Harshman (Ohio City, Ohio/Parkway), along with junior Megan Zachrich (Napoleon, Ohio/Napoleon).

King is the top returning scorer of the three, as the three-point specialist chalked up a career high 13.3 points per game during the 2012-13 season, while shooting .380 from behind the arc. The First-Team All-HCAC selection from last year also chipped in with 3.8 rebounds and 2 assists per contest.

The Pettisville, Ohio native also made history for the Defiance women's program last year, as King became the all-time leader in three pointer's made, along with tying the record for treys in a game.

The second senior in the group is Harshman, who once again served as an all-purpose player for the Purple and Gold. The forward recorded 5.2 points per game, while completing the year second on DC in rebounds and third in steals.

Concluding the player to watch list for the Jackets was Zachrich who had an outstanding sophomore campaign. The Honorable Mention All-HCAC choice more than doubled her freshman points per game output by averaging 8.5 last season. Zachrich also finished second in steals, tied for second in field goal percentage and fourth in rebounds.

Defiance women's basketball will open up their 2013-14 season on Wednesday, November 20 when it travels north to Michigan to battle the Alma Scots. The contest is slated to begin at 6 p.m.