Yellow Jackets Host Franklin in OT Thriller

DEFIANCE, OHIO - The Defiance College women's basketball team staged a second half comeback that fell short in overtime against Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Franklin on Saturday afternoon. The Purple and Gold dropped the contest 87-79. 

The Yellow Jackets saw four players finish in double figures led by junior Shleby Stamm (Bellevue) and freshman Taylor Day (West Mansfield) with 17 points a piece. Senior Sam Ervin (Bloomdale/Elmwood) added 13 points, while senior Lauren Rogers (Minger, Mich./Bay City Central) netted 11 points.

Franklin surged ahead early in the opening period using a 7-0 run to claim the 15-8 lead. DC looked to combat the run as Day connected for back-to-back scores that pulled the Yellow Jackets within 18-14 after the opening period. Defiance looked to carry the momentum into the second period as Day, again deemed clutch from three-point cutting the deficit to 18-17. However, Franklin responded pushing the advantage once more following a runner in the lane, 24-20. The Purple and Gold weathered the storm and continued to find key scores late in the quarter as senior Ashley Lee (Millington, Mich.) made her way into the scores column. The Grizzles would reclaim the momentum in the final seconds as a three-pointer as time expired gave them the 37-30 halftime lead.

In the second half, the DC offense slowly began to find its rhythm as Stamm connected from deep to pull Defiance back within 45-40 midway through the period. The two teams continued to exchange points for several minutes when Stamm stepped up big for DC with back-to-back scores cutting the deficit to 58-53. Rogers netted the final score of the period for the Purple and Gold as she hit a jumper in transition pulling the Yellow Jackets within 62-55.

Defiance remained poise in the final period of action as Ervin and Day found scores early that erased the Franklin lead. With the momentum at hand the Purple and Gold continued its hot shooting as Ervin provided two huge three-pointers midway through the period that again cut the deficit to 70-67. The Yellow Jackets would tie the contest minutes later as Rogers sank a pair of free throws that sent the contest to overtime. 

The Yellow Jackets looked to hang in overtime as Rogers and Ervin both found back-to-back scores knotting the game at 76-76. However, the Grizzle offense responded as timely free-throw shooting sealed the mid season conference victory.

Defiance returns to action on Wednesday, january 30 as they travel to Anderson. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m.