Lady Jackets lose heartbreaker on last-second shot
Nick Williams, Assistant SID

DEFIANCE, Ohio - The DC Lady Jacket Basketball team saw an opportunity for a third conference win slip away in the form of a last-second jumper as Anderson University squeaks out a victory by the score 66-64.

DC held a seven-point lead with under seven minutes to play in the game when the Ravens cut it to 62-58 with 3:27 left. A Jacket turnover then led to a Jacket foul and two Anderson free throws to make it a 62-60 game. Another DC turnover gave way to a Raven fastbreak layup, tying the game at 62. An Anderson foul put Meghann Savard at the line with 1:05 left to play. Savard sank both to put DC back on top. The Jackets would commit a foul to put Anderson at the line for a one-and-one. The Ravens hit the first but missed the second, giving DC the ball with a 64-63 lead. After a timeout, DC inbounded the ball, but a turnover by Savard and immediate foul put Anderson back at the line with a chance to take the lead.

Anderson’s Jessica Hamman would sink the first but miss the second. Kara Jones came up with the rebound and was fouled while bringing the ball up the court. With DC in the bonus, Jones went to the line but missed the first free throw and Anderson came away with the rebound, calling a timeout with only 11 seconds left. On the inbound, the Ravens found their way to put the ball into the hands of Chelsie Haines, who would fire a 17-footer from the elbow with only two seconds left that dropped with only 0.3 left on the clock. DC was unable to get a shot off on the inbound.

It proved to be a game of two halves, although the first half in itself did not see either team play their best ball. Although DC held a 33-28 after the first half and held the Ravens to only 38% shooting, the Jackets only shot 37% themselves. DC shot much better in the second half, going 11-of-22 from the field, but gave up nine offensive rebounds, leading to eight second-chance points. However, ball control wound up costing Defiance the game, as the team committed eight second-half turnovers, five of them coming in the final three minutes of the game.

Savard led DC with 20 points and eight rebounds, but fouled out of the game. Jones scored 17 while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out five assists. Sarah Grime chipped in with 10 points and four boards. Anderson’s Chelsie Haines led all scorers with 22.

The Lady Jackets travel with the men’s team to Hanover on Saturday as they play the first game of a men’s/women’s doubleheader. Tip off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.