LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Defiance College women's basketball team dropped a hard-fought Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game on the road against Transylvania, 69-66. Junior Kim Comden paced Defiance with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Neither squad could open up more than a three point lead over the first nine minutes of the game. Defiance went up by three points, 15-12 on a jumper by junior Emma Starks with 11:33 on the clock in the first half. A short 8-2 push over the next few minutes gave Defiance the first break away in the game, 23-14, with 6:07 remaining in the half. Starks scored two buckets during the short surge, while Comden and junior Rachel Ciminillo made the others.
Defiance continued to put pressure on the host Pioneers, as DC built a ten-point lead going into the break, 34-24. Sophomore Kim Bingley scored five points down the stretch and freshman Jesse Arnold added a basket to further the Defiance lead.
In the second half, Transylvania slowly chipped away at the Defiance lead during the first seven minutes of the frame. With 12:15 left in the game, the Pioneers equaled the scores, 43-43 on a bucket by Elizabeth Thomas.
Transylvania slowly built a seven point-lead, 58-51, with 4:13 remaining. A frantic Defiance comeback fell just short as a late three-pointer by sophomore Erica King pulled the Yellow Jackets to three-points, 69-66, but with not enough time for another possession.
Defiance scored seven more field goals, 27-20, than the Pioneers, but Transylvania held a 30-shot advantage in free throw attempts, 40-10. DC also claimed a 44-34 margin in rebounds and forced Transylvania into 13 turnovers.
Comden's double-double was the first of the season, while the 18-point effort was her best since a 20-point outing against Mount St. Joseph on January 14. Bingley scored 11 points and added six rebounds, while Starks entered double-figures with 10 points. Ciminillo chipped in with seven points and six rebounds.
With the loss, Defiance falls to 8-11 overall and 6-6 in league play. Transylvania improves to 9-10 overall and 6-6 in the conference.
Transylvania was led by 17 points from Nicole Coffman.
The Yellow Jackets will return to action on Wednesday, February 1 against HCAC opponent Manchester. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 pm in N. Manchester, Indiana.