Hot Shooting Lady Jackets topple Tri-State

DEFIANCE, Ohio— Shooting a season-high 55% from the floor, the Defiance College Lady Jackets downed Tri-State University, 78-56, at the Karl H. Weaner Center on Saturday afternoon.

Meghann Savard and Sarah Bird headlined the Jacket offense, with Savard registering her fourth double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 boards. Bird had a game-high 20 points with six assists and five rebounds. Kayla Mengerink added nine points, a team-high seven assists and four rebounds, while Megan Myers, Melissa Headley and Sarah Grime chipped-in eight points apiece. Grime added six boards, while Headley dished-out four assists.

The Thunder, now 1-10 on the season (0-1 MIAA) was led by Shanna Hoogenboom’s 16 points.

Defiance used a 42-point second-half to pull away from the Blue and White after leading 36-31 at intermission. The Lady Jackets shot 60% from the floor and 71% from behind the arc in the final period and went on an 18-2 run to open the period, highlighted by back-to-back Headley triples in the 13th minute.

The margin hovered at 20-points until four Grime charity shots closed out the DC scoring with a minute remaining.

The Lady Jackets, now 3-8 on the season (0-0 HCAC), will open Heartland Conference play on Wednesday when they travel to Transylvania University for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off. The Pioneers were picked to finish second in the conference in the league’s preseason coaches’ poll.