Women's Basketball Drops Contest with Rose-Hulman

DEFIANCE, OHIO – The Purple and Gold fell in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action with Rose-Hulman on Saturday afternoon at the Karl H. Weaner Center. The Yellow Jackets fell 60-33.

Defiance (5-12 overall, 3-7 HCAC) was led in the contest by sophomore Shelby Stamm (Bellevue) with a team-best 15 points, including three, three-pointers.

Defiance finished the contest with a game-high 35 rebounds and dished out eight assists.

The Purple and Gold got off to a slow start in the opening period before Stamm bounced in a three-pointer from the corner that pulled DC within 6-5 at the 5:00 minute mark. The Yellow Jackets captured its first lead of the contest moments later as senior Whitney Schalk (Bellevue) eluded the defense and hit a runner in the lane, 7-6. Rose-Hulman closed out the period on a 4-1 run to claim the first quarter lead, 10-8.

The Fightin' Engineers carried the momentum into the second period as a 9-0 run extended their lead with 6:45 to play, 21-10. Stamm would break the streak as a put back down low sparked a small DC run that cut the deficit to 21-14 with 5:31 remaining. The two teams exchanged points over the next several minutes before a free throws for Rose-Hulman gave them its largest lead of the half with 1:32 to play, 29-16. Freshman Kalyn Pickens (Fort Wayne, Ind./R. Nelson Snider) broke the charging Engineers as a steal and score pulled DC within 29-18 at the break.

The league leading Engineers continued its offensive success in the second half as a quick score extended the Rose-Hulman advantage 35-20. With 4:10 to play in the third period, the Fightin' Engineers capped off an 11-0 run with a fast break layup pushing the lead to 44-20. Junior Sam Ervin (Bloomdale/Elmwood) and Stamm broke the DC scoreless drought with 2:31 remaining delivering back-to-back blows, 46-25. Rose-Hulman connected for the final score of the period entering the fourth quarter with the 48-25 lead.

The struggled continued for the Purple and Gold deep into the final period going scoreless for nearly six minutes when Stamm drained her third, three-pointer of the contest ending the drought, 54-28. However, the Fightin' Engineers deemed too much as they captured the 60-33 victory to remain perfect in HCAC action.

The Yellow Jackets return to action Wednesday, January 24 as they travel to Manchester. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.