Purple and Gold Edge Albion in Overtime to Snap Four-Game Skid

ALBION, Mich. – Megan Zachrich and Erica King each scored six points in overtime to lead the Defiance women's basketball team to a 67-60 victory over the Albion Britons. DC improved to 3-6 on the 2013-14 campaign, while the host Britons dropped to 4-7.

In the first half, both teams severely struggled at the offensive end. The Purple and Gold connected on only 5-of-23 (21.7 percent) attempts from the floor, while Albion was not much better at 8-of-35 (22.9 percent). But the Yellow Jackets solid mark from the charity stripe (12-of-16, 75.0 percent) kept them in the game, as they only were down 26-24 at the intermission.

As the game continued in the second half, the two squads battled for every basket. Nine minutes into the second half, the score sat tied at 36-36 and neither team had held a lead larger than four in the period.

After DC regained the lead, a layup by Zachrich (Napoleon, Ohio / Napoleon) pushed its advantage to 46-43 with just over seven minutes remaining in the contest. However, the home team responded with a big 9-0 run to go up 52-46, which tied its largest lead of the game.

But this thrilling back-and-forth contest was not over, as Defiance came right back with a spurt of its own. With just 37 seconds on the clock, an old fashioned three-point play freshman Kelsey Tietje (Deshler, Ohio / Patrick Henry) gave the Purple and Gold a 54-53 lead.

Unfortunately with just three seconds left, Zachrich was only able to split a pair of free throws. The Britons promptly grabbed the rebound and ran down the court, where Brett deBear laid in a bucket to knot the game at 55-55 and send it to overtime.

After coming so close to their first victory of the month, the Lady Jackets would not be denied on this night and closed the deal in the extra period. Zachrich came out and spotted DC a six-point lead, after a fast-break jumper put it up 61-55 with 1:39 remaining.

Albion then made a last ditch effort to get the deficit to three at 61-58, but King (Wauseon, Ohio / Pettisville) came through with a clutch hit from behind the mark and knocked down three free throws that secured the 67-60 win.

The DC defense was dominant on the night, holding the Britons to a 26.7 percent (20-of-75) from the field, which was a season-best mark. Defiance was also able to grab the advantage on the glass by a 59-44 margin. The 59 boards was also a high mark this year.

For the Purple and Gold, Tietje recorded her Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference leading sixth double-double with 15 points and a career-best 16 rebounds. Zachrich chipped in with 11 points, senior Ashley Birchmeier (Vaughnsville, Ohio / Columbus Grove) scored 10 and hauled in eight boards, and King and senior Hannah Harshman (Ohio City, Ohio / Parkway) notched nine points apiece.

The Yellow Jackets will be back on the court tomorrow Sunday, December 29, when it takes on the Olivet Comets in an afternoon affair. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.