DC Unable to Keep Pace with First Place Spartans

Defiance vs. Manchester Box Score

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance was unable to complete the comeback, falling 74-64 to Manchester College on Wednesday, February 13. The loss drops the Jackets to 3-10 in the HCAC.

Trailing 6-2 just three minutes into the contest, DC went on a 9-0 run over the next three and half minutes to grab the lead. Mandy White’s basket at the 13:48 mark capped off the run to give the Jackets a five-point advantage, 11-6. Manchester wasted no time reestablishing control of the game, as Rachel Wilkinson scored eight points in the Spartans 14-2 run that put them out in front 20-13 with 9:33 remaining in the half.

Courtney Schmersal stopped the bleeding with a jumper to pull Defiance within five, 20-15, but the Spartans were able to push their

lead to as many as 12 points before heading to the break with a 35-26 advantage.

Senior Sarah Bird stepped up for DC in the second half, jumpstarting a 6-0 spurt to cut the deficit to 39-34 with 16:36 left in the game. Holly Stein’s two free throws pulled the Jackets within three, 43-40, but Defiance would not be able to get over the hump in the last 14 minutes of the contest. Manchester led by All-HCAC guard Sarah Bose was able to squash all of DC’s comeback attempts, completing the season sweep of the Jackets.

Defiance limited the Spartans to just 38 percent shooting from the field, but coughed up 28 turnovers during the contest. The Jackets outrebounded Manchester 44-38, despite allowing 16 offensive boards as the Spartans outscored DC 34-12 in the paint. Defiance continued its success at the free throw line, shooting a blistering 91.3 percent on 21-of-23 shooting.

White snapped out of a recent slump to record her fourth double-double of the season with a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds. Stein was a perfect eight-of-eight from the charity stripe, dropping in 15 points to go along with her seven boards. Bird reached double-digits in scoring for the fifth consecutive game with 12 points, while averaging 15.8 points per game over that span.

Defiance (8-13) returns to action on Saturday, February 16, when they host Transylvania University. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The Jackets will be accepting donations for the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund during the game, all fans are encouraged to help DC in this endeavor.