Rose-Hulman uses lengthy run to down Women's Basketball, 66-37

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance College women's basketball team faced off against Rose-Hulman Saturday afternoon at the Karl H. Weaner Center. After a strong start for the Yellow Jackets, it was Rose-Hulman the rest of the way as the Fightin' Engineers cruised to a 66-37 win fueled by a 27-2 run. 

The Fightin' Engineers improve to 6-7 overall and 3-3 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Yellow Jackets fall to 0-13 overall and 0-6 in the HCAC. 

This was the first meeting since February 20, 2022, when the teams met in the HCAC Tournament at Rose-Hulman. The last time the Yellow Jackets played Rose-Hulman at home was February 12, 2022. All of this is because Rose-Hulman canceled their season last year. 

TURNING POINT

The two teams entered the second quarter tied at 15, and a three by Ali Mowen gave DC an 18-15 lead 51 seconds into the second quarter. The Yellow Jackets went scoreless for the next 8:07 of action and Rose-Hulman used virtually the entire quarter to go on an 18-2 run and took a 13-point lead going into halftime, 33-20. The run extended into the third quarter and overall ended up being a 27-2 run to extend the lead even more. The Yellow Jackets were scoreless for the first 4:59 of the second half.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both teams started strong out of the gates and the first quarter featured four ties and four lead changes in a back-and-forth affair. Zadria King was the spark and scored eight of Defiance's 15 points in the opening quarter while Karrie Smith dished out three assists in the opening period. The Yellow Jackets trailed 15-10 with 1:49 left in the first, but battled back to tie it at 15 by the end of the period. Ali Mowen knocked down a three and Teagan Hunt made a jumpshot for the five points.

The game changed quickly when the Yellow Jackets scored five second quarter points and shot 2-for-11 (18 percent) in the period while Rose-Hulman scored 18. The offensive struggles continued for the Yellow Jackets in the second half and finished 6-for-24 from the field during the final 20 minutes. After the strong and positive start, DC was held to single digit scoring figures in the final three quarters. Rose-Hulman led by 33 with 4:37 remaining, their biggest lead of the game. 

BRINGING THE STING

• Zadria King and Ali Mowen led the way offensively, scoring 14 and 12, respectively. 

• Karrie Smith grabbed a career high six rebounds and recorded a career high three assists. 

• Mowen had four makes from downtown for the second time in three games which ties a career high. 

• Taylor Bates swatted two shots for a career high and came away with four steals, a career high.

• Kaiya Albert blocked one shot for the second time in three games.

• Katlin Barrett recorded one block for the fourth time this season.

• Mone'a McElroy grabbed one rebound for the third time this season. 

• The Yellow Jackets turned the ball over a season-high 30 times.

• Rose-Hulman turned the 30 turnovers into 28 points. 

• CK Gallegos-Rodriguez led the Fightin' Engineers with 10 rebounds and six steals, while Emilia Diaz led the team in scoring with 11. 

UP NEXT

The Yellow Jackets battle rival Bluffton at the Karl H. Weaner Center on Wednesday, Jan. 10. The women's game tips off at 6 p.m. with the men's game to follow.