Defiance Uses Big Second Half to Get Past Lions

Mount St. Joseph at Defiance Box Score

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance rallied from 12 back in the second half to notch a crucial HCAC win against Mount St. Joseph on Saturday. The Jackets poured in 43 points in the final 20 minutes en route to the 74-65 win over the Lions.

Mount St. Joseph had a hot hand early and connected on 15-of-24 shots for a 62.5-percent clip in the opening half and took a 37-31 lead into the half.

The Lions then scored the first six points of the second half to push the lead to 12 points at 43-31 but it was all Defiance from then on, as the Jackets beat MSJ 43-22 over the game’s final 18 minutes to complete the come-from-behind victory.

Sarah Grime got things started for DC with a layup to ignite a 13-0 Yellow Jacket rally which saw Defiance turn a 12-point deficit into a one-point lead in a matter of 4:19. Sarah Bird capped the spurt with a trey and a jumper on consecutive DC possessions.

The two sides trades punches in the following minutes before a Sara Jacobs layup put Defiance in front by a 50-49 margin with 11:01 to play. The Jackets never relinquished the lead from there, pushing the spread as wide as 13 at 66-53 before settling on the 74-65 final.

Mandy White led all players with 23 points and 10 rebounds and Kayla Mengerink added 14 points and three assists. Grime posted 10 points and six boards while Bird and Katie McNamara each added nine points.

The Jackets won the battle of the boards, 41-33, and capitalized on 16 offensive rebounds with 23 second-chance points. DC also held a 24-14 edge in points off turnovers.

Defiance (10-5, 3-3 HCAC) will have a full week off before playing at Transylvania next Saturday at 1:00 pm.