DEFIANCE, Ohio
The Franklin College women’s basketball team missed a potential game-tying 3-point field goal attempt in the final seconds to drop a 55-52 contest at Defiance College in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) action Saturday.
The Grizzlies used a 17-5 run during the final 8:50 of the first half to tie the game at 30-30 after the opening 20 minutes.
The second half featured a defensive battle. Defiance (5-10, 4-4 HCAC) took a 44-41 lead after a layup by Megan Zachrich with 6:25 left. The Yellow Jackets held a nine point lead, 50-41, following a jumper by Kelsey Tietje at the 3:22 mark.
Franklin (8-6, 6-2 HCAC) chipped away at the deficit behind consecutive 3-pointers by freshman Madi Kolthoff. The Center Grove product’s second shot from behind the arc cut the deficit to 52-49 with 1:36 left.
Defiance answered with a 3-point field goal by Ashley Williams on its next offensive possession. Franklin’s Kolthoff converted a three-point play to bring the visitors within three points, 55-52, with 43 seconds remaining.
The Yellow Jackets turned over the ball to allow Franklin an attempt to tie the game. Sophomore Lauren DeSutter missed a 3-pointer with eight seconds left.
DeSutter scored a game-high 15 points, including 13 in the first half. Sophomore Kayle Comer added 10 points off the bench. Senior Nichole Thompson scored eight points and had 10 rebounds.
Defiance’s Tietje scored 14 points and had 14 rebounds in the victory.
Franklin returns to action at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday when it hosts nationally ranked Transylvania University in the Spurlock Center.
