December 2, 2022

Women’s basketball welcomes in Franklin on Saturday

DEFIANCE, Ohio — The Defiance College women's basketball team hosts Franklin College at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Weaner Center.

Both teams enter the contest with 1-3 records and are 0-1 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Defiance lost their conference opener at home to Manchester, 80-73, while Franklin's visit to nationally-ranked Transylvania ended in a 92-46 defeat. Both institutions are also guided by first-year head coaches.

Franklin and Defiance rank seventh (61.5) and eighth (60.0) respectively in scoring offense in the HCAC. Despite the scoring troubles, Franklin's 38.5 percent shooting percentage is the second-highest in the conference. Defiance is posting a 37 percent rate from the floor and averages 4.5 3-pointers per game while leading the conference at the charity stripe at 70.8 percent.

Seniors Taylor Day and Taylor Steinbrunner top the charts for Defiance in scoring and rebounding at over 12 points per game and nearly six boards. They each provided their usual contribution of 11 points apiece and combined for 11 rebounds against Manchester on Wednesday, but the Yellow Jackets received a jolt off the bench from a team-best 15 points by Lauren Criblez and got 11 out of Kalista Friday. Friday's 11 was the freshman's first career game in double figures and a career-high by the senior, Criblez.

The Grizzlies are led by freshman Jordan Coon at 10.5 points per game and followed by junior CiCi Bailey at 9.5 per contest. Bailey is also the team's leading rebounder with 6.5 per night.

Defiance College's annual Santa's Challenge promotion will be held at halftime of the women's game. DC students can register in the lobby prior to the game and four participants will be chosen for a chance to win assorted gifts and prizes just in this holiday-themed on-court challenge. There will also be prizes raffled off during the men's basketball game at 3 p.m.

-JACKETS-