Four quarters of thrill ends in Defiance loss in season-finale at UM-Dearborn

DEARBORN, Mich. - After four hard-fought quarters of basketball, Defiance College dropped its season-finale at Michigan-Dearborn 80-74. Three players contributed double-digits point totals, which lead to the Yellow Jacket's highest-scoring contest all season.

Seconds after tipoff, Jordan Banks of the Wolverines (1-27, 1-19 WHAC) was fouled by Candyce Hollins, sending her to the line for two – both of which she knocked down – giving UM-Dearborn a 2-point advantage. A minute later, Morgan Crowe banked a 3-pointer to take the lead before the Wolverines sent back-to-back layups through the hoop. Over the remaining six minutes of the first quarter, the score evened out four times before a Taylor Haynes layup put Defiance (3-23, 1-18 WHAC) on top 19-18 heading into the second. Haynes scored nine of the Yellow Jackets points. 

Jourdyn Wynn – who has sparked momentum for Defiance as of late, reaching double-doubles in each of its previous two games – was the difference maker in the second quarter. Though the resulting score going into halftime was similar to the first quarter, DC up by one (38-37), Wynn kept the Jackets with eight points and shooting 6-of-8 from the free-throw line. Throughout the quarter, the lead changed eight times and 15 total fouls were committed as the contest became scrappy, which ultimately contributed to 19 chances at the line between Defiance and UM-Dearborn. 

The second half's scoring kicked off with back-to-back shots from either team, evening the score at 40. Hollins fired back with two, 3-pointers to create a six-point advantage over the Wolverines, that is until an India Grissom layup slimmed it to four. After two made free throws, followed by a triple, UM-Dearborn was able to steal back the lead for the first time in the second half. In 30 seconds, Crowe sent in two shots from beyond the arc, however, the Wolverines clawed back with two layups to snatch the lead once again. The home team was able to seal the advantage after the third quarter, 62-60. 

UM-Dearborn jumped out to a 3-point head start to begin the final quarter of the game. With a chance to tie the score, Hollins tried a three, but couldn't knock it down. The Wolverines stayed strong with momentum on their side and made back-to-back threes, earning them the largest lead of the game at eight points ahead. After a four-minute scoring drought, San'taizia Thomas made a jump shot which was preceded by a bucket from Haynes. UM-Dearborn hung onto their lead as Defiance was forced to foul to earn back possession. 

THE TURNING POINT

The Yellow Jackets and Wolverines have been closely matched all season long, which proved true in the first three quarters of the contest. Defiance led at the end of the first two, while UM-Dearborn snatched up a two-point advantage at the end of the third. At the 8:23 mark of the fourth quarter, the Maize and Blue's Bailey Stimac went 1-of-2 from the free-throw line, which put her team one point ahead. They continued to build a lead and the Jackets came within five points twice, but were unable to even the score to win the game. 

A CLOSER LOOK

• Morgan Crowe led the scoring with her season-high in points, 19. She additionally grabbed eight rebounds with four assists. 

• Taylor Haynes and Jourdyn Wynn each contributed 17 points. 

• Defiance's 74 points is a season-high point total.

• The Jackets dominated the rebound game 43-31. 

• The team's were even with 32 points in the paint each. 

• Fouls hurt Defiance as it finished with 25 compared to UM-Dearborn's 14. 

• DC scored 38 points in the first half, which is also a season-high.

• The series between the Yellow Jackets and Wolverines is now even on the season 1-1. Each team took the victory on their home courts. 

-JACKETS-