Yellow Jackets Finish Regular Season with Senior Day Showdown

DEFIANCE, OHIO - The Defiance College women's basketball team wrapped up the 2018-19 regular season on Saturday afternoon against Hanover College. The Yellow Jackets battled the tough Panther side to a 62-46 defeat. 

Seniors Sam Ervin (Bloomdale / Elmwood), Sidney Faine (Bluffton / Ada), Ashley Lee (Millington, Mich. / Millington), and Lauren Rogers (Munger, Mich. / Bay City Central) wrapped up their regular season career's in front of the large Defiance crowd. 

The Yellow Jackets, who had already clinched their spot in the HCAC Tournament, looked to improve their seed against the Panthers. A strong start from Hanover gave the visitors a slight advantage heading into the second half. 

Coach Allan King Jr.'s side continued to battle the talented Panthers, outscoring Hanover in the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter push was highlighted by a huge three from Lee, getting the DC faithful on their feet. 

The Senior Day showdown was led by Rogers, finishing with 12 points on the day. The dozen points gave the Munger, Michigan native her 13th double-digit performance of the season. Taylor Haines (Stryker / Stryker) posted a career-high twelve points in the affair. The sophomore also added six rebounds to her statline.

Defiance finishes the regular season with a 9-16 overall record and a 8-10 conference mark. A fifth place finish in the HCAC standings results in DC heading to Mount St. Joseph for a battle with the Lions in the first round of tournament action. The Yellow Jackets split the series with MSJ this season, falling in a nailbiting contest early in the year, before returning home with an emphatic 74-59 victory in the rematch. The contest is slated for a 7:30 pm tip-off on Tuesday, Feb. 19.