Hollins shows out in loss at Cleary

HOWELL, Mich. - In the midst of a midwestern winter wonderland, the Defiance College Yellow Jackets visited Gannon Gymnasium where they faced conference foe Cleary on Saturday. Despite a 14 point, six-rebound performance from Candyce Hollins, the Cougars took down the Purple and Gold 67-44. 

The first 10 minutes of play was slightly lopsided for the Yellow Jackets as Cleary dominated the board with 16 rebounds, however, Defiance was able to hold them to just four second-chance points. With help from perfect free-throw shooting from Chandler Duncan, DC trailed by only nine. 

Alante Wright came out on a mission in the second quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers to give Defiance momentum. Cleary's Amy Jackson returned the favor with two of her own and the Cougars continued to run the backboard with 33 total rebounds in the first half, which this time, contributed to eight buckets. The Yellow Jacket's bench went off for 10 total points before the half, though Cleary continued to remain on top, 36-18. 

Candyce Hollins shot a three to kickstart the second half. By the midpoint, the Cougars had gotten six more of their own before San'Taizia Thomas intruded by scoring her first bucket of the contest. Twenty seconds later, Thomas notched her 11th block of the season. 

Defiance's bench was able to continue puncturing holes in the Cleary defense through the fourth, but it ultimately wasn't enough to bounce back against the Cougar's attack with nine separate scoring contributors. 

THE TURNING POINT

As 3:43 remained in the first quarter, Chandler Duncan was fouled and sent to the line for two shots, both of which she knocked down, giving Defiance seven to the Cougars' 11. After these points, the Yellow Jackets became stagnant until the 8:01 mark of the second quarter when Alante Wright found the basket for three. In that time, Cleary was able to extend its lead to 17, a lead that it was able to retain for the remainder of the contest.  

A CLOSER LOOK

• Candyce Hollins led the scoring with 14 points, accompanied by six rebounds

• The Yellow Jackets bounced back in free-throw shooting going 5-of-8 from the line

• San'Taizia Thomas blocked a shot for the 11th time this season

• The Yellow Jacket's bench went off for 19 points

• Defiance had its most wealthy quarter in the fourth with 16 points

UP NEXT

The Yellow Jackets return home for more Wednesday night action, this time against Lawrence Tech. The Blue Devils sit a spot below Defiance in the WHAC and are without a conference win. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.

-JACKETS-