Lady Jackets Take Hubbard Co. - Pro Rehab Tournament Title

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Lady Jackets won the fifth annual Hubbard Co. – Pro Rehab Tournament on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Wilmington College Quakers, 70-62, to take their third tournament title in five attempts. The team is now 7-4 on the season and has won three consecutive games for the first time since February 3, 2007.

Wilmington College jumped out to an early lead as Emily Zimmer nailed a three pointer to put the Quakers up, 9-5, with 15:15 on the clock. After Defiance tied the game, 9-9, at the 14 minute mark, the Quakers went on a run to claim their largest lead of the game, a 22-15 advantage, with six minutes left in the half. The Yellow Jackets climbed their way back into the game and took their first lead of the contest on a Molly Bateman three-pointer that put the Jackets up by one with just under two minutes remaining in the half. Katie Carunchia drew a foul with one second on the clock and hit a free throw to give the Jackets a two-point lead at the break.

The two teams swapped leads for the majority of the second half as both squads got major contributions from their key players. The Quakers were up by two when Mandie White sank a tough layup between two defenders to tie the game up for the tenth time. A clutch trifecta by DC guard Katie Carunchia broke the tie with 4:39 left on the clock and the Jackets never looked back, building their lead to eight points by the end of regulation.

The Jackets appeared to be playing their best basketball of the season, recording season-highs in rebounds and assists while tying their season-low with just 11 turnovers. DC's defense was the difference maker, forcing the Quakers to commit 28 turnovers in the contest.

Shavonda Price scored a game-high 19 points while collecting seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals. She was given the Hubbard Co. – Pro Rehab Tournament MVP award after averaging 18 points, seven rebounds and 2.5 blocks in the Jackets' victories over Albion and Wilmington.

Mandie White finished the game with 14 points and a team-high 12 rebounds to go along with a block and two steals. She controlled the paint for the Jackets, holding Wilmington's talented forwards, Claire Brown and Kortney Kin, to a combined five-of-16 shooting from the field. White was named to the Hubbard Co. - Pro Rehab All-Tournament Team for her efforts.

Tasha Stucke led the Jackets in minutes played in both games and basically ran the show from start to finish. She ended the game with seven points and eight assists, but it was her defensive pressure in the full-court press that gave the Quakers fits.

Molly Bateman repeatedly made shots at crucial moments in the game and ended with a career-high 14 points to go along with two assists and two steals.

The Lady Jackets will get two days off before traveling to Ada, Ohio, for a game against Ohio Northern University (4-5) on Tuesday, December 22. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.