Rogers Highlights Contest with HCAC Leading Transylvania

DEFIANCE, OHIO - Senior Lauren Rogers (Munger, Mich./Bay City Central) netted a team-best 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds to pace the way for the Purple and Gold on Saturday afternoon in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference contest with Transylvania. The Yellow Jackets dropped the contest 70-58.

After a slow start, Defiance (3-10 overall, 2-4 HCAC) began to find its groove erasing a 17-7 first quarter deficit following a 6-0 run highlighted by a three-pointer from senior Sam Ervin (Bloomdale/Elmwood) with 8:18 to play before half. DC continued to connect on the deep threat as juniors Shelby Stamm 9Bellevue) and Liz Martin (Bellefontaine) netted back-to-back three-pointers to pull the Yellow Jackets within 27-19 with just over two minutes remaining. The Purple and Gold would carry the momentum late into the period as sophomore Kalyn Pickens (Fort Wayne, Ind./R. Nelson Snyder) made her way into the scoring column registering five straight points to enter the break trailing 27-24.

The Pioneers remained poise to open the second half and used their experience to once again pull away from the Yellow Jackets hitting a three-pointer just moments into the third quarter, 32-24. They continued on their run as back-to-back deep balls pushed the advantage to 40-24. Defiance looked to claw their way back into the contest following a three-pointer from freshman Nysha Speed (Sterling Heights, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North) but the deficit deemed to much entering the final period of regulation trailing 53-40.

The Yellow Jackets battled tough in the fourth quarter as they displayed a strong performance at the free throw line cutting into the Transy lead with just 2:18 remaining, 66-53. But again the Pioneer offense stepped up sinking a pair of clutch free throws late to seal the 70-58 victory.

The Purple and Gold return to action on Wednesday, January 9 as they play host to area rival Bluffton. Tip off is set for 6:00 p.m.