First-Place Panthers Get the Best of DC in High-Scoring Affair

HANOVER, Ind. – Defiance posted the most points scored against Hanover's defense this season, but fell short, 102-91, against the HCAC's top-ranked team. The Lady Jackets (8-11; 6-6 HCAC) remain in fifth place in the conference with six games left in the regular season.

Despite posting one of their best offensive games of the season, the Lady Jacket never led in the game as the Panthers jumped out to a ten-point lead after just five minutes of play, and maintained a double-digit lead for most of the game. Hanover scored 23 of its 57 first-half points from the free throw line, led by Molly Martin who shot eight-of-eight from the line in the first half.

The Panthers held a 34-19 lead with just over nine minutes left in the opening period, before Molly Bateman hit two-consecutive three-pointer to cut the lead to nine, and added a jumper on the next possession to make it a 34-27 game. After a missed jumper on the other end, Tasha Stucke made a layup, cutting the deficit to five points with 7:47 left in the half.

Hanover scored the next five points, pushing its lead back to 10, before DC's Nia Banks stole the ball from Amanda Trambaugh, drew contact on her layup, and converted the free throw for a three-point play that brought DC back within seven. The Panthers finished the half on an 18-10 run however, and Defiance went into halftime with a 15-point deficit.

The Panthers held a double-digit lead for the rest of the way, pushing their advantage to as many as 21 points on a three-point play by Martin with 12 minutes left in the game. Tasha Stucke, Hanna Firchau and Courtney Schmersal combined to hit three-straight three-pointers from the 11:47 mark to the 10:47 mark to spark a mini rally for DC, but Hanover continued to pour it in on the other end to fend off DC's attempted comeback.

The Jackets hit ten-of-16 three-pointers in the second half, giving DC 13 for the game and a 13-3 edge over the Panthers in three-point field goals for the contest. However, the Panthers neutralized DC's advantage from deep by outscoring the Jackets 33-14 from the charity stripe. The Lady Jackets did a nice job on the glass as well, out-rebounding the conference's best rebounding team by a count of 41-38, but the Panthers dominated the turnover battle, 25-14, and dropped Defiance to 0-8 this season when recording more turnovers than its opponents.  

The Lady Jackets will play a more defensive-minded squad on Wednesday, Feb. 2, when they head to Manchester for a match with the Spartans (9-9; 7-4 HCAC). Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.