Yellow Jackets win in triple overtime

DEFIANCE, Ohio- The Defiance College women's basketball team played host to Mount St. Joseph University on Saturday afternoon for a Heartland Colligate Athletic Conference matchup. The Yellow Jackets defeated the Lions in triple overtime 84-82.

After the first quarter, MSJ took an eight-point lead (21-13), but Defiance cut the deficit in the second quarter when Liz Martin (Bellefontaine, Ohio / Bellefontaine) knocked down a three-point basket with 6:41 left the half to tie the game at 21-21. Going into the half time, the Purple and Gold were within one point of the visitors with a score of 28-27 going into the locker room.

Out of the break, the Yellow Jackets outshot the Lions by three points, taking a 50-48 lead headed into the fourth. At the end of regulation, the sides were tied at 63-63. Both the Yellow Jackets and the Lions tallied 10 points in the first overtime to tie the game at 73-73, heading into double overtime.

In the second period of overtime, the Lions took a three-point lead with seconds left, but freshman Briana Townley (Paulding, Ohio / Paulding) hit a clutch three-point basket to tie the score 80-80 and send the game into triple overtime. The sides continued to battle, but the Yellow Jackets came out victorious as Lexie Sparks (Trenton, Ohio / Kings) makes two free throws to secure the 84-82 win for Defiance.

"At the beginning of the game, we fell behind, but we were always within striking distance," said Defiance head coach Allan King Jr. "Mount St. Joseph made plays all night long, it felt like every time we got ahead they would make a play, and at the end, they got ahead of us a few times, and we answered back."

For the Yellow Jackets, numerous players found their stride on the offensive side of the ball. Taylor Steinbrunner (Beavercreek, Ohio / Beavercreek) led the way with a career-high 21 points while also dishing out three assists. Townley finished the contest with 17 points, and on the glass, she grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds. Nicole Sims (Camden, Ohio / Preble Shawnee) added to the Yellow Jackets offense with her first double-digit career game recording 12 points.

With strong performances from a number freshmen, King added, "Our ability to fight back when we were down 5 points, two different times during different overtime periods showed a step of maturity from our young kids."

As a team, Defiance shot 13-31(41.9%) from behind the arch tonight and 19-27 (70.4%) from the free-throw line. The Purple and Gold outrebounded the Lions 47-45 on the evening as well.

The victory brings the Defiance record to 5-10 overall and 4-4 in the HCAC. The purple and gold will be back in action at the Karl H. Weaner Center on Wednesday, January 22, as they host the Earlham College Quakers. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm.