Early turnovers costly in loss at Hanover; King posts first career double-double

HANOVER, Ind. - The Defiance College women's basketball dug themselves an early hole that they were unable to dig out of. The Panthers turned 11 Defiance turnovers into 17 points during the first quarter of action and took a commanding 28-4 after the first 10 minutes of play. The early start for Hanover propelled them to the 96-43 victory. 

Despite the loss, Zadria King was once again a bright spot for the squad by recording her first career double-double (20 points, 10 rebounds).

The loss drops the Yellow Jackets to 0-8 overall and 0-2 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference while the Panthers improve to 3-4 overall and 2-0 in the HCAC. After scoring a season low 28 points last week at Transylvania, the 43 points for DC today was the second fewest in a game this season and so far through the first two conference games, the Yellow Jackets are allowing 94.5 points per game. 

TURNING POINT

The Panthers started the game on a 9-0 run and never looked back, holding the Yellow Jackets scoreless for the first 4:17. After Defiance's first bucket of the game, Hanover went on another run, this time an 11-0 spurt to take a 20-2 lead. Hanover would take a 78-28 lead going into the fourth quarter.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Yellow Jackets were held scoreless for the first 4:17 and trailed 9-0 before Zadria King's layup put Defiance on the board. The sluggish start and early deficit was too much to overcome and the four first quarter points were the fewest in a game this season. 

The Yellow Jackets would bounce back in a big way in the second quarter but were still outscored 21-19 in the period. With the score 41-14, DC went on a little 7-0 run. Zadria King started the run with a three-point play, Twanasia Graves added two free throws and King turned a Reese Sexton turnover into a made jump shot to make the score 41-21. The Panthers would respond yet again and ended the first half on a 6-0 run. 

In the first half, Hanover would go 15-of-16 at the free throw line compared to just 3-of-3 for Defiance. The Panthers scored a total of 24 points off DC turnovers and Grace Bezold put her stamp on the game by scoring 23 in the half.

The third quarter was very similar for both teams. This time, Hanover outscored the Yellow Jackets 29-5 to put the game away. Defiance once again bounced back and put together a solid final quarter, but they were narrowly outscored 18-15.

BRINGING THE STING

• Coach Peay went with a different starting five for the sixth time in eight games thus far. Today's lineup was the fourth game in a row the Yellow Jackets have rolled out different starters. Katlin Barrett got the starting nod for the second straight game.

• Zadria King continues to be a bright spot and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds this afternoon and posted her first career double-double by pouring in 20 points. 

• King would also add two blocks, a career-high.

• The Yellow Jackets have now been held to single digit scoring quarters six times in the first eight quarters of conference play. 

• The Defiance defense held the Panthers to just 3-of-11 beyond the arc. 

• Twanasia Graves scored a season-high six points.

UP NEXT

The Yellow Jackets will wrap up non-conference play next Saturday, Dec. 16 with a trip to Kalamazoo. Tipoff in Michigan is set for 3 p.m.