Yellow Jackets Stifled in HCAC Contest at Rose-Hulman

TERRE HAUTE, IND. - The Yellow Jackets were stifled by the Fightin' Engineers on a snowy Saturday afternoon in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action, 67-53.

Defiance was led on the day by junior Shelby Stamm (Bellevue) with a team-high 10 points and six rebounds, including connecting for 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. Junior Danielle Carruthers (New Lindon) added nine points with six rebounds.

Carruthers went to work early for the Purple and Gold as she connected for back-to-back scores with 7:32 to play in the opening period pulling DC within 6-4. However, Rose-Hulman looked to pull away as they used a small run of its own to push the advantage before Stamm sank a pair of clutch free-throws to keep DC within 9-8. The Yellow Jackets would capture its first lead of the game moments later as freshman Nysha Speed (Sterling Heights, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North) also found success at the free-throw line to put Defiance on top 10-9 with just under five minutes to play. The Fightin' Engineers responded once more going on a 7-0 run to regain the 17-10 advantage. But again the Purple and Gold came storming back, led by senior Lauren Rogers (Munger, Mich./Bay City Central) who hit a three-pointer as time expired, 17-16. 

Rose-Hulman continued to fire on all cylinders in the second quarter as they surged ahead early before a deep ball by Stamm haulted the charge and pulled the Yellow Jackets back within 23-19. They continued to chip at the lead cutting the deficit to 26-21 when Rose-Hulman again strung together a small run to extend the led to 29-21 midway through the period. Defiance would score the final points of the period as sophomore Kalyn Pickens (Fort Wayne, Ind./R. Nelson Snyder) hit a layup to enter the half trailing 34-26.

The Yellow Jackets struggled much of the second half as the Fightin' Engineers blew the game wide open scoring seven straight points to capture the 41-26 third quarter lead. Sophomore Taylor Haines made her way into the scoring column as she hit a three-pointer that haulted the running Engineers and sent them into the fourth quarter trailing 48-34.

In the final period of action, Defiance tried to make a comeback as senior Ashley Lee (Millington, Mich.) netted back-to-back points but the deficit was just to much as Rose-Hulman held on for the 67-53 victory. 

The Purple and Gold return to action on Saturday, January 23 as they play host to Manchester. Tip off is set forr 7:30 p.m.