Bird Knocks Down Career-High Five Treys in Loss to Transy

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance was unable to hold on down the stretch, falling 80-71 to Transylvania University on Saturday, February 16. The loss drops the Jackets to 3-11 in the HCAC.

Defiance opened the game on fire, knocking down a shot from beyond the arc on its first three possessions. Sarah Bird hit two of her career-high five three-pointers in the first minute, while Holly Stein capped off the run with another one at the 18:49 mark to give DC an early 9-0 lead.

Transylvania stormed back, outscoring the Jackets 21-10 over the next seven minutes to grab its first lead of the contest, 21-19. Sara Jacob’s jumper in the paint helped Defiance regain the lead, 34-33, with 1:58 left in the opening period, but the Pioneers would finish the half on a 10-1 run to go into the break with a 43-35 advantage.

Bird caught fire again to start the second half, scoring ten points in the first six minutes to help spark a 14-5 DC run that put the Jackets up 49-48 with 14:07 remaining in the contest. Transylvania pulled away over the next few minutes, but Amber Bailey scored six consecutive points to pull Defiance back within one, 65-64. The Pioneers had an answer once again, using a 15-4 run to close out the game before Bird’s trey at the horn cut the lead to nine.

Transylvania shot a red hot 55.6 percent from the field, while the Jackets finished the game shooting at a 32.4 percent clip. DC knocked down eight shots from beyond the arc, matching its highest output of the season. Defiance was able to pull down 19 offensive rebounds, while also forcing 22 turnovers.

Bird led Defiance with 21 points, 13 of which came in the second half. Stein added 14 points and six boards, while seeing her consecutive free throw streak end at 25. Bailey also reached double-figures in scoring with 11 points as well as recording seven boards and three blocks, while Kim Zura came off the bench to score a career-high nine points.

Defiance (8-14) returns to action on Wednesday, February 20, when it hosts HCAC foe Franklin College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.