Gray Wolves outlast Yellow Jackets in Saturday afternoon matchup

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Defiance College Yellow Jackets hosted Lourdes at the Karl H. Weaner Center in a Saturday afternoon matchup as the Gray Wolves fought off DC 70-43. 

Lourdes opened the game with a 9-0 run lasting until the 7-minute mark of the first quarter. Jourdyn Wynn made the first Yellow Jacket bucket of the day with a layup, assisted by Chandler Duncan. Both teams went scoreless for the following two minutes until Lourdes broke the ice, followed by two good free throws from Defiance's Na'lani Williams. The Yellow Jackets raced back to make the score 15-10 Gray Wolves, but struggled to make shots to slim the gap for the remainder of the first. Lourdes shot 56.3% in the first quarter compared to Defiance's 20%. 

With the visiting team up 21-10 to begin the second quarter, the teams traded baskets until the Gray Wolves took off on a 7-0 run. Williams tipped in a Taylor Haynes missed layup at the 4:59 mark of the second just before Lourdes began an 11-0 run. A Makaiya Thomas bucket ended the half as the Gray Wolves led 43-16. 

Defiance came out of the half outscoring Lourdes 13-7 before the 2:22 mark of the third quarter. From there on out, the Gray Wolves found their momentum again with 12 unanswered points, including six consecutive by Emma Pedroza. However, DC turned the final 7:24 of the game into their most productive quarter yet with 14 points. 

THE TURNING POINT

Lourdes came out the gates scoring 9-straight points, going 4-of-6 for field goals. This run set the stone for the remainder of Saturday's contest. 

A CLOSER LOOK

• Na'lani Williams notched her second-consecutive double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds

• Williams' 12 rebounds is a new personal best and team best

• Chandler Duncan led the team in scoring for the second game in a row with 13

• Defiance outshot Lourdes at the free-throw line going 12-of-26 compared to 4-of-18

• The Yellow Jackets created two fast-break buckets; Lourdes had none

• Both teams allowed 18 turnovers

UP NEXT

The Yellow Jackets will play on Tuesday against Indiana East at Lingle Court. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.

-JACKETS-