Four Yellow Jackets score in double figures in 84-73 loss to Anderson

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance College women's basketball team scored 73 points tonight, the most they've scored in a game all year, but it wasn't enough as the visiting Anderson Ravens drained 17 three-pointers and held off a late fourth quarter rally from the Yellow Jackets to take the game, 84-73. 

With the win, the Ravens improve to 8-8 overall and 4-5 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. The loss drops the Yellow Jackets to 0-16 overall and 0-9 in conference play. 

The Ravens came into tonight shooting just 30 percent from downtown and shot 56 percent from long range this evening. 

TURNING POINT

With 5:54 remaining in the game, the Ravens lead was down to just six, 73-67, after a made three by Ali Mowen. The three was part of a 9-0 run by the Yellow Jackets which forced a timeout by the Ravens. Anderson came out of the timeout by scoring five straight points to reclaim the lead and push it back out to double digits. Another key run by the Yellow Jackets during the 9-0 run was back-to-back misses by Addy Allen and Karrie Smith from long range that would've tied the game. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Yellow Jackets took early leads of 2-0 and 4-2, but the Ravens were hot from downtown early and went on a 16-0 run to take a 20-4 lead. Anderson knocked down four straight threes during the stretch, with two coming from Neva Sheets. As a team, the Ravens shot 56 percent from the floor in the opening quarter and hit five threes, while the Yellow Jackets shot 39 percent from the floor and only connected on one from downtown. The hot shooting by the visitors saw them take a 25-13 lead after the first 10 minutes. 

The Ravens continued their hot shooting in the second quarter and went 60 percent from the floor, while the Yellow Jackets shot the same percentage as they did in the first, 39 percent. DC had been struggling from the free throw line as of late, but went 8-for-10 in the second quarter that allowed them to stay within range and trailed 47-32 at halftime. 

The Yellow Jackets slowly started to claw their way back in the third quarter and outscored Anderson 24-21. Bella Larrison started the second half with a layup and Karrie Smith was fouled on a three point attempt and knocked down all three at the line to make the score 49-35 34 seconds into the second half. A three by Makynlee Taylor snapped a 2:27 scoreless streak by both teams. A difference maker in the third quarter was Anderson turning six Defiance turnovers into 11 points. Trailing 67-47 with 1:11 left in the third quarter, the Yellow Jackets closed the period on a 9-1 run. Karrie Smith, Addy Allen, and Ali Mowen each knocked down a three with Mowen's coming at the buzzer to give DC a bolt of momentum going into the final quarter.

The Yellow Jackets would not go away quietly. Trailing 73-58 with 8:44 left, Zadria King, Karrie Smith, Aliza Clark, and Ali Mowen propelled DC to a 9-0 run to get back within six, 73-67 with 5:54 left. The Ravens answered the run with five straight points which extended to an 8-2 run. Over the final 4:06, Anderson outscored Defiance, 11-6 to claim the victory. 

BRINGING THE STING

• Karrie Smith led the way by scoring a career high 21 points and recording a career best four assists.

• Joining Smith in double figures was King with 16, Allen with 12, and Mowen with 11.

• Addy Allen grabbed a career best five rebounds and Ali Mowen tied season and career high with five assists. 

• The five assists by Mowen led the team.

• King recorded the only block for the Yellow Jackets in the game.

• Aliza Clark and Taylor Bates both contributed four points each off the bench. 

• As a team, the Yellow Jackets shot a season best 47.3 percent from the floor. 

• The 41 second half points is the most in a game this season.

UP NEXT

The Yellow Jackets conclude their five-game home stretch on Saturday at the Karl H. Weaner Center against Transylvania. Tipoff for the women's game is at 1 p.m. with the men's game to follow at 3.