Jackets Hold Off Bluffton 68-65

DEFIANCE, Ohio –Defiance held off several late runs by Bluffton University to pull out a 68-65 victory on December 5. The win marks DC’s 28th consecutive victory over the Beavers at home, as the Jackets have not lost to Bluffton in the Karl H. Weaner Center since the 1981-82 season.

After struggling to break down Bluffton’s zone in the first half, the Jackets led by freshman point guard Tasha Stucke, picked apart the Beaver defense in the second half. Stucke had five of her game-high seven assists in the second stanza as Defiance came out of the locker room on a 25-10 spurt to take a commanding 55-47 lead with just over six minutes remaining in the contest.

Bluffton climbed back into the game as Kim Miller knotted the game at 57 with two of her game-high 18 points, capping off a 10-2 run by the Beavers. One possession, later with Bluffton looking to regain the lead, Stucke picked off a Miller pass and hit a streaking Kim Zura for an easy bucket to give DC a 59-57 advantage. Miller scored again on the very next possession to tie the game once again, 59-59, but the Jackets would answer right away with two quick baskets to grab a 63-59 lead.

After the Beavers pulled within one with just over a minute play, Sarah Bird connected on two free throws to put Defiance up by three, 68-65. Mandy White would ice the game for DC just seconds later picking off a pass to help the Jackets pull out its first HCAC victory of the season.

Defiance shot 45.6 percent from the field in the game, while holding the Beavers to just 30.3 percent shooting in the second half. The Jackets had its best game of the season on the boards, outrebounding Bluffton 47-33 over the course of the game.

Bird was one of four Lady Jackets to reach double-figures in scoring, dropping in a team-high 16 points. Freshman Holly Stein continued her stellar play recording the first double-double of her career, pulling down a career-high 12 rebounds to go along with her 15 points. White and Sarah Grime scored 12 apiece for the Jackets, tallying five and six rebounds respectively. Amber Bailey made her presence felt in the paint, recording four blocks and pulling down eight boards on the night.

Defiance (2-2, 1-1 HCAC) will look to move over the .500 mark when it travels to Hanover College on Saturday, December 8 for a HCAC matchup. Tip-off is slated for 1:00 p.m.