Defiance Falls Short on Senior Day

 DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College women's basketball team honored their three seniors Saturday afternoon at the Weaner Center but was defeated 95-58 by the visiting Transylvania Pioneers.

Defiance (7-15, 5-10 HCAC) was led by Shelby Stamm with a team best 22 points. Sam Ervin added 14 points and four rebounds in the loss while Whitney Schalk dished out 10 assists.

As a team, the Yellow Jackets shot 19-for-54 (35.2%) from the floor, including 12-for-28 (42.9%) from three-pointer.

Stamm opened the game with the first of her seven threes on the day, quickly putting the Purple and Gold on the board. Transy would respond with a pair of jumpers before Ervin connected on a trey of her own, tying the score at 6 apiece with 6:42 remaining. The Pioneers found their offensive groove late in the first quarter recording five straight points, to lead 25-19.

Defiance struggled to convert in the second period, notching just 12 points compared to the Pioneer's 24. Transy would build their lead to 15 after a 12-2 run and continue to gain momentum going into the half with a 49-31 advantage.

A trio of threes from DC brought them to within 13 at the 6:17 minute mark of the third quarter but Transylvania's defense would prove to be too much for the Yellow Jackets. Defiance would go nearly four and a half minutes without a bucket before Lauren Rogers would sink a much needed jumper. The Pioneers continued to click, wrapping up the third 68-44.

The visitors pushed their lead to 85-54 with 5:27 to play following an 8-2 sprint, eventually capping the game 95-58.

The Purple and Gold return to the hardwood on Wednesday, February 14 as they host Earlham College. Action is set to start at 7:30 PM in the Weaner Center.