DC falls to the Bethel Pilots Friday night

MISHAWAKA, Ind. - The Defiance College women's basketball team continued its five-game road trip at Bethel on Friday night, falling to the Pilots 84-44 at Wiekamp Athletic Center.

DC's junior starting point guard Ali Mowen started the scoring with a three-point jumper. On Wednesday versus Siena Heights, Mowen had a quiet game, but on Friday she scored five with three rebounds tacked on. However, the Pilots answered with a triple from Faith Davis, which started them on an 8-0 run. 

With 5:38 on the first-quarter clock, Na'lani Williams slimmed the gap to three points with a layup. The junior, Southwestern Michigan transfer scored 15 points against Siena Heights in her Yellow Jacket debut. For the next several minutes of play, Bethel had a short, steady lead until a single minute remained in the first quarter when Defiance's Jakiah Mitchell brought the game within two, the Pilots leading 16-14. 

From 32 seconds in the first quarter to the 4:18 mark of the second quarter, Bethel outscored the Yellow Jackets 17-4, making the Pilots lead 35-18. In the final three minutes of the half, Jourdyn Wynn put up five points alone, while Bethel's roster stayed consistent scoring, ending the half 45-25 Pilots. All five of the freshman's first-half points came in that time frame. 

Wynn continued her hot streak into the third quarter with a basket just 17 seconds into the period. The Yellow Jackets then went on a near eight-minute scoring drought, while the Pilots dished in seven straight shots to push their lead to 60-27. At the 1:49 mark of quarter, San'Taizia Thomas made one of two free throws to break the scoring ice. Defiance put in three more free throws to close out the third quarter behind, 64-31. 

In the fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets put up 13 points — five courtesy of Wynn — while the Pilots finished the final quarter with 20 additional points on the board. 

THE TURNING POINT

Jourdyn Wynn had an impressive 12-point, four rebound game in just her second as a Yellow Jacket. She was 5-for-9 in shooting — leading the team — and got the scoring started in the third and fourth quarter for Defiance. 

A CLOSER LOOK

• Makaiya Thomas had 10 points, three boards and went 6-for-9 from the free-throw line

• The Yellow Jackets accounted for two defensive blocks 

• JaKiah Mitchell had eight points, going 4-for-6 from the free-throw line 

• DC created 17 turnovers

• Bethel had 25 fouls to Defiance's 19

• The Pilots created 28 turnovers, which led to 36 points of theirs

UP NEXT

The Yellow Jackets will play an exhibition game at Purdue Fort Wayne on Tuesday before traveling to Huntington (Ind.) for a Nov. 16 matchup, which will tip off at 1 p.m.

-JACKETS-