Defiance done in by Beavers’ long-range shooting on Wednesday

BLUFFTON, Ohio – The Defiance College women's basketball team was defeated 81-48 by rival Bluffton at the Sommer Center on Wednesday, snapping their five-game winning streak.

The Yellow Jackets (6-6, 1-4 HCAC) fell into an early hole due to a 28 percent shooting percentage in the first half. The Beavers (8-4, 2-3 HCAC) knocked down 10 of their 15 total makes from outside the arc on their way to shooting 48 percent over the first 20 minutes to lead 44-18 at halftime. Six of Bluffton's 10 3-point makes were sunk by freshman guard Kyla Columber. Columber finished the game with eight triples and a game-high 26 points off the Bluffton bench.

DC held Bluffton in check for most of the first quarter, which featured three different ties before the Beavers started knocking down shots. The game was tied 10-10 before Bluffton ripped off an 11-1 run to close the opening frame.

Taylor Day laid in the first basket of the second quarter to snap a nearly five-minute drought without a Defiance field goal. Bluffton quickly answered when Columber nailed her second 3-pointer of the game and first of five in the second period. Defiance went cold in the second and did not score between Day's layup and a Nicole Sims trifecta with 1:17 left in the first half.

The Yellow Jackets were chasing for most of the game and were outscored 37-30 in the second half. Defiance ended with a 31 percent shooting night and committed just nine turnovers. On the flip side, Bluffton finished 50 percent (16-for-32) from 3-point land and 47 percent overall from the floor without missing a free throw attempt in the process (9-for-9). Bluffton also held the upper hand in rebounding at 44-33.

Bluffton's 81 points were a season-high for the Beavers offense and the most Defiance has allowed in a game this season as well. Aside from Columber's 26, Morgan Smith scored 12 for Bluffton and Sammy Shardo added 10 more. Day led DC with 10 points while Zadria King posted a career-high seven points in late-game action.

Defiance returns to action on Saturday against nationally-ranked Transylvania. Tipoff against the No. 3 Pioneers is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Weaner Center and will be followed by the men's matchup.

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