Women's Basketball Falls Short in Conference Opener

DEFIANCE, OHIO - The Defiance College women's basketball team fell short in its Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference home opener with Rose-Hulman on Saturday afternoon at the Karl H. Weaner Center. The Yellow Jackets dropped the contest 61-53.

The Purple and Gold (0-6 overall, 0-1 HCAC) were led on the day by sophomore Kalyn Pickens (Fort Wayne, Ind./R. Nelson Snider) with a team-high 13 points and four rebounds. Senior Sam Ervin (Bloomdale/Elmwood) hauled in a team-best five rebounds.

The Yellow Jackets surged ahaead early in the first period as Pickens connected for back-to-back scores to give DC the 4-2 advantage. Junior Danielle Carruthers (Wakeman/New London) hit a runner in the lane to push the lead before a fast break layup by Rose-Hulman tied the contest at 8-8 with just under five to play. The two teams exchanged points for much of the period before a late layup as time expired gave the Fightin' Engineers the slight 13-9 advantage.

Defiance battled tough in the second period as Ervin opened the quarter with a quick score pulling the Yellow Jackets within 13-11. But again, Rose-Hulman looked to pull away connecting for back-to-back socres midway through the quarter before a junior Sidney Faine (Bluffton/Ada) three-pointer pulled the Purple and Gold within 24-23. DC would connect for the final score before the half as junior Shelby Stamm (Bellevue) hit a layup in the paint to give the Yellow Jackets the slim 25-24 halftime advantage.

The Purple and Gold looked to carry the momentum into the third period as Ervin connected from deep to push the advantage to 28-24. However, the Fightin' Engineers came roaring back as a jumper in the paint would swing the lead in favor of Rose-Hulman. The two team continued to battle back and forth before another clutch three-pointer, this time by freshman Taylor Day (West mansfield/North Union), put DC on top 41-38. Defiance went on to score four more points in the period to enter the final quarter leading 45-42. 

Rose-Hulman dominated much of the fourth period as they remained poise and held the Yellow Jackets scoreless for nearly seven minutes en route to the early Conference victory.

The Purple and Gold return to action on Saturday, December 8 as they travel to Franklin, Ind. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m.