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 play.
Franklin (14-7, 10-4 HCAC) secured a berth to the conference tournament and its eighth consecutive winning season with the win.
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.
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 Come connected on a three-point field goal to bring the Grizzlies within two points, 45-43, at the 2:37 mark.
Franklin tied the game, 45-45, after a basket by junior Lauren DeSutter with 2:11 remaining.
Following a missed shot by Defiance on its next possession, DeSutter gave the Grizzlier their first lead 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, it missed a three-point field goal attempt with seven seconds left. The Yellow Jackets then 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 when it travels to Hanover.
