Defiance, Ohio - The Franklin College women's basketball team scored the game's final 16 points to rally past Defiance College 47-45 on Saturday in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) play.
Franklin (14-7, 10-4 HCAC) secured a postseason berth to the conference tournament and the program's eighth consecutive winning season with the victory.
Trailing 45-31 with 7:51 left in the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies started the comeback on a three-point field goal by sophomore Kelsey Smith (Lexington, Ind./Scottsburg).
Franklin scored on three consecutive possessions to cut the deficit to five points, 45-40, with 3:23 remaining.
After a Defiance turnover, junior Kayle Comer (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) connected on a three-point field goal to bring the Grizzlies within two points, 45-43, at the 2:37 mark.
Franklin tied the contest, 45-45, after a basket by junior Lauren DeSutter (Pittsboro, Ind./Tri-West) with 2:11 remaining. Following a missed shot by Defiance on its next possession, DeSutter gave the visitors their first lead of the contest after draining a jump shot with 1:34 left.
Franklin made the two-point advantage hold up with stingy defense down the stretch. The Yellow Jackets turned the ball over with 1:05 remaining. Franklin missed a jump shot with 45 seconds left. After Defiance got the defensive rebound, the hosts missed a three-point field goal attempt with seven seconds left. The team missed a shot that would have tied the game just before the buzzer.
The Grizzlies held Defiance scoreless for the final 7:51 of the game. The Yellow Jackets missed their final seven field goal attempts and had seven turnovers during the stretch.
Defiance made six three-point field goals to build a 26-20 halftime advantage. The Yellow Jackets went 5 for 9 shooting in the third quarter to take a 41-27 lead.
DeSutter led Franklin with a game-high 15 points and four steals. Smith scored 12 points, while Comer added seven points.
Franklin returns to action on Wednesday, February 10, at 7:30 p.m. when it travels to Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana. Live video and statistics of the game will be available. In-game updates will also be available on Twitter (@FCAthletics). Like the Grizzlies on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinCollegeAthletics), and on Instagram (@fcgrizzlies).