Savard and VanderHorst combine for 42 in win

DEFIANCE, Ohio --- The Defiance College Lady Jackets (8-7, 4-1) posted their third straight win Wednesday night against the visiting Anderson University Ravens (1-15, 1-4), 58-51.

The Jackets were lead by a solid upper class attack with Junior Megan Savard’s game high 23, and Senior Kelly VanderHorst’s double-double (19 pts.-15 rebs.). DC advances to records of 6-2 when Savard scores 20 point or more and 5-1 when VanderHorst pulls home more than 10 boards.

The Ravens were lead by Junior Heather Terflinger and Freshman Ashley Kisler with 15 and 12 points, respectively.

DC jumped out to an early lead they would keep the entire game behind a pair of VanderHorst free throws 37 seconds into regulation play. By the 14:45 mark, the Jackets had built their greatest lead of the half at 10 (12-2). Beginning with a Megan Meyers foul, Anderson would shorten the lead to seven points. Two DC turnovers were converted into points and the lead was cut to a point on an Amanda Miller triple with 10:17 remaining in the half. The Jackets built the lead back up to nine on a Meta Gerding jumper from behind the arc. Gerding finished the night with nine rebounds and four points. Anderson fought back and DC was ahead by five (25-20) at the break.

Anderson broke the ice 2:58 into the second half on an Emily Bailey lay up. The lead was back to one with 16:28 left to play after Terflinger’s layup following a VanderHorst miss.

The upperclass leadership of Gerding, Savard and VanderHorst was lights out and chipped in 11 unanswered points that put DC up 35-24 with 11:39 remaining. Anderson was unable to recover and never got the lead to under five points.

By out rebounding the Ravens 34-27, DC was able to convert 16 second chance points. The Jackets 22 defensive boards held Anderson to only four second chance points.

The Lady Jackets will look to extend their streak to four Saturday as they travel to Hanover, Indiana to meet conference rival Hanover College at 1:00 p.m.