No. 6 Hope Drops Jackets in Tip-Off Tournament Title Game

HOLLAND, Mich. – Defiance could not overcome a hot shooting night by nationally ranked Hope, falling, 79-57, in the Tip-Off Tournament championship game on Saturday, November 22. The Jackets had two players receive all-tournament honors this weekend, as Amber Bailey and Holly Stein each were selected to the All-Tourney Team.

The Flying Dutch, who went 30-1 last season, were out to prove the high ranking was not all hype, as they grabbed the early lead and never looked back. Hope raced out to a 33-8 lead in the first 15 minutes of the opening half, behind the scoring of Courtney Knox and Kaitlyn Kopke. However, DC was able to close the gap before the end of the half, as Katie Carunchia's two free throws with five seconds left helped cap off a 17-5 run that drew the Jackets within 13, 38-25, at the break.

Defiance carried that momentum over to start the second half, as Katie McNamara hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut Hope's lead to seven, 38-31. The Flying Dutch responded with a 5-0 spurt to push the lead to 43-31, but a trifecta by Stein brought the lead back under ten points. Hope would use a 26-9 run over the next eight minutes to put the game away, as DC was not able to climb within 20 points over the remainder of the contest.

Hope shot a blistering 50 percent from the field, which proved to be the difference in the game as the Jackets were held to just 26.7 percent shooting. The Defiance defense was able to force 34 steals, while recording a season-high 22 steals in the contest.

Bailey led DC with 14 points, while also tallying six boards, four blocks and three steals. Stein was the only other Jacket to reach double figures, scoring 10 points to go along with her four rebounds. Tasha Stucke's bid for a triple-double fell just short, after an eight-assist, seven-rebound, seven-steal performance.

Defiance (2-2) will get another shot at the Flying Dutch on Tuesday, November 25, when it opens up its 2008-09 home slate at the Karl H. Weaner Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.