HANOVER, Ind. – Junior center Kim Comden scored a career-best 21 points, but it was not enough for the Lady Yellow Jackets as Defiance fell to Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference rival Hanover, 71-49.

The Panthers struck first in the opening session, jumping out to a 15-6 run with 12:04 remaining in the half. Defiance answered with an 11-5 run over the next four minutes to cut the Hanover lead to three, 20-17. Sophomore Erica King hit two three-point shots during the run, while senior Brooke Zachrich added a make from behind the arc. Turnovers plagued the Jackets from that point on in the opening half, as Hanover scored 17 total points off of DC turnovers in the frame to enter the break with a 34-22 lead.

DC scored the first five points of the second half to cut the lead to seven, but was unable to narrow the margin any further. Hanover responded with a 10-2 run from 18:55 to the 15:40 mark to create a 14-point gap (44-29) between the two teams.

Comden's career-best 21 points bests her 19-point outburst against Manchester on December 8, 2010. She connected on 7-of-12 shots from the floor and sank seven-of-eight free throws. Comden also added five rebounds.

King finished the game with eight points, four rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Hannah Harshman scored six points and grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds.

Hanover, which moves to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the HCAC, was led by 13 points from Alicia Hopkins.

Defiance falls to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in league play. The next game for the Lady Jackets will be on Wednesday, December 14 when they host Kalamazoo. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm in the Karl H. Weander Center, and the game can be viewed online at http://www.defianceathletics.com/video/.