Shooting Woes Stifle Women's Basketball Against Earlham

DEFIANCE, OHIO – The Purple and Gold struggled on the offensive end as the Earlham College Quakers shot past DC on Wednesday evening in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action, 71-55.

Defiance (5-11 overall, 3-6 HCAC) was led in the contest by sophomore Shelby Stamm (Bellevue) with 10 points and a team best eight rebounds. 

The Quakers jumped ahead early in the opening period using a 4-0 run to claim the 10-4 advantage with 4:54 remaining. DC looked to get something going as freshman Cassidy Yant (Churubusco, Ind.) got the put back and score to cut deficit to 12-8 with 2:23 to play. The Purple and Gold continued to weather the storm as Yant sunk a pair of free throws in the final minute to pull Defiance within 18-10.

The offensive struggles continued for much of the second quarter for the Yellow Jackets as a turnover and steal with 5:40 remaining extend the Quaker lead, 25-12. Earlham remained red hot as a pair of free throws by Kayla Bowling capped off a 13-0 run with 3:46 to play, 34-12. Defiance looked to battle back as Stamm worked her magic in the paint scoring six straight points with under two minutes to play, 36-16. Junior Lauren Rogers (Munger, Mich./Bay City Central) would make her way into the scoring column after sinking three straight free throws as time expired to enter the break trailing 36-24.

The Yellow Jackets looked to pound it down low early in the second half as junior Sam Ervin (Bloomdale/Elmwood) landed back-to-back scores with 8:56 to play, 38-27. However, the Quaker domination preceded as another small run pushed the advantage with 4:41 remaining, 48-31. At the 1:38 mark, junior Ashley Lee (Millington, Mich.) looked to lift the lid for the Purple and Gold as she scored the Jackets first three-pointer, 50-35. EC would out score Defiance 19-11 in the period to take the 55-35 advantage.

The Purple and Gold cranked up the intensity in the final period of play as jumper from Rogers and a layup by Ervin pulled DC within 57-39 with 8:57 to play. The Quakers offense never subsided as a three-pointer at the 7:56 mark gave them its largest lead of the game, 63-39. Earlham finished the contest shooting 22-for-50 (44%) from the field, including three three-pointers en route to the 71-55 victory.

Defiance returns to action Saturday, December 20 as they host Rose-Hulman at the Karl H. Weaner Center. Tip-off is set for 1:000 p.m.