Defiance College 2020-21 women's basketball season preview

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance College women's basketball team heads into the upcoming 2020-21 season returning 10 key players from last year joined by the same number of freshmen. Entering his third campaign as head coach at Defiance, Allan King Jr. is looking for his Yellow Jackets to improve on their records from last season, finishing 7-18 overall and 6-12 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

In leadership roles, DC women's basketball looks to senior Kalyn Pickens (Fort Wayne, Ind./R. Nelson Snider) and junior Briawna Francis (Indianapolis, Ind./Avon).

Pickens played in 25 games while making nine starts last year. She scored 117 points, grabbed 63 rebounds while dishing out 30 assists, and added 14 steals. "I couldn't be more excited about Kalyn Pickens," King said. "She is a great kid, a hard worker, and has a smile on her face all the time. She put in extra work this offseason and I have been seeing it pay off in practice so far." King added, "You couldn't ask for a better senior with how she handles herself but also treats the freshmen. She has made them comfortable from day one and is their biggest fan! Her growth on and off the court over the last three years has been exponential and I am confident she will do big things on the court this year and in life!" 

Francis was featured in 24 games, where she recorded 15 rebounds, 17 assists, and five steals. King spoke highly of the junior, saying, "Bri Francis is everything you want in a leader. She not only does everything she is asked, but she always puts the team first. On top of that, she has a coach's mind for the game, which makes my job easier when it comes to getting our team on the same page."  

Other players looking to impact the Yellow Jackets this season are juniors Taylor Day (West Mansfield, Ohio/North Union) and Nysha Speed (Sterling Heights, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North).  

Day has had two productive seasons in her freshman and sophomore years. Last season, Day played and started in 24 games, where she scored a team-leading 218 points, averaging 9.1 per game. She also led the team with 35 steals and 118 rebounds. Day earned All-HCAC Honorable Mention honors for her efforts, and King is predicting that she will have another big year for the Yellow Jackets.

"Taylor Day is a player that just makes things work," King said. "She is a stat-sheet stuffer, she just gives you what you need on any given night, whether that be points, rebounds, assists or steals. We set our defense with her, meaning we always have her on the opponents' best player, a task she relishes and thrives in."

About Speed King said, "Nysha is another kid that has put in the work, and I am excited about what she is going to bring to our team. She worked hard in the offseason and I am excited to watch her reap the rewards of her hard work!" Speed played in 25 games while making 23 starts, where she scored 88 points, grabbed 73 rebounds, and dished out 12 assists.

With an experienced group of returners, King is hoping that all of the players will do their part in pushing each other to be better. "The returners have looked good this preseason," King said. "I have been really impressed with the growth, specifically with those freshmen, now sophomores, we have seen a lot of maturity from that group." 

Looking to make major contributions to the DC roster and add depth are sophomores Nicole Sims (Camden, Ohio/Preble Shawnee), Lexie Sparks (Trenton, Ohio/Kings), Lauren Criblez (Harrod, Ohio/Allen East), Briana Townley (Paulding, Ohio/Paulding), Josi Wolf (LaRue, Ohio/Elgin), and Taylor Steinbrunner (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek). 

"Nicole Sims is a true point guard," King said. "She does the most important thing a point guard can do and that is run the team. She makes those around her better and is constantly looking to set others up, but I challenged her this offseason to get back to being a scorer herself, which is a challenge I have watched her accept." Sims played in 24 games, making 17 starts, where she recorded a team-high 53 assists. 

Outside of the veterans, King is also looking for contributions from many of his newcomers this season. "Our freshman class is solid; it's going to be a group of kids that play really well together and do a lot of good things," said King. "This is a nice freshman class, and a genuine group, with great energy and they have been a lot of fun to coach. We are excited to see who makes an impact when they get their opportunity this season."   

With uncontrollable circumstances and a limited schedule for the upcoming season, King said, "No doubt it's affected us some, but one thing we've said from the beginning is we are not going to allow the circumstances to make us, but we are going to make the circumstances." 

After a competitive conference season last year, the Yellow Jackets are excited for the opportunity to see what they can do this season. King said, "With not having scrimmages this year, it limits the ability to see how people are going to react to in-game situations, and every single game this year will be seen as tough competition." 

"Our conference is tough from top to bottom, and we have many different rivalries for so many different reasons," said King. "There are so many teams that I can point out, like Transylvania University, who won it last year. We are always chasing the champs, and we are definitely interested in competing against them and seeing where we fall."  

Defiance tips off its upcoming campaign in the Karl H. Weaner Center for the home opener against Adrian College this Wednesday, December 2 at 6 pm. The Yellow Jackets then hit the road to take on the Bulldogs Saturday, December 12, before returning home for two more contests prior to the holiday break. Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play is expected to start in mid-January.

Defiance will not be allowing fans at home events for the month of December due to COVID-19 protocols, but live statistics and video streaming can be found at www.DefianceAthletics.com.