Second Half Woes Hurt DC in Loss to Mount Vernon

MOUNT VERON, Ohio – Defiance was unable to overcome a strong second half by Mount Vernon Nazarene, falling 77-63 on Tuesday, November 18. The loss is the Jackets first of the 2008-09 campaign, snapping a three-game winning streak that dates back to last season.

The Cougars jumped out to an early 9-2 advantage, but DC fought back as Amber Bailey set up back-to-back buckets by Shavonda Price to help the Jackets knot the game at 21 with 8:24 left in the half. Defiance would grab its first lead of the game less than two minutes later on a Tasha Stucke layup, before Mount Vernon answered with five points in a 15-second span to regain the lead. Jenna Deskins scored eight straight points to pull DC closer, before Katie Carunchia's layup helped Defiance head into the break tied, 35-35.

 Mount Vernon sent a message to start the second half, going an 8-0 run to open up a commanding lead. The Jackets were not able to get lead under six points, as the Cougars held DC to just 31 percent shooting in the final stanza.

Defiance put four players in double-figures for the second-straight game, as Bailey, Deskins, Price and Stucke all had over 10 points in the contest. DC shot 37 percent from the field for the game, while hitting just 15 percent of its shots from beyond the arc. The Jackets outrebounded Mount Vernon 47-41, including 24 boards off the offensive glass. Defiance forced over 20 turnovers for the third consecutive contest, a streak that includes last season' regular season finale against Rose-Hulman.

Stucke led the Jackets with 12 points, while pulling down five boards. Bailey recorded the ninth double-double of her career, recording 10 points and grabbing a season-high 16 rebounds to go along with her four blocks and three steals. Deskins and Price each scored 10 points for DC off the bench, while Holly Stein finished with a team-high six boards.

Defiance (1-1) will be back in action this weekend, November 21-22, at the Hope College Classic. The Jackets open up the classic with a game against Alma on November 21, before facing either Concordia (Minn.) or No. 6 Hope on November 22. DC can reach its 600th program victory with a win this weekend.