DEFIANCE, OHIO -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
rallied from a 16-point halftime deficit to take the lead in the
second half, before Defiance College answered to capture a 79-72
women's basketball victory on Saturday.
Senior Donna Marsh (Mobile, Ala./Baker) paced Rose-Hulman's offensive effort with 20 points, 14 rebounds and six blocked shots. Marsh also finished 8-12 from the field.
Junior Alisa Dickerson (Elizabethtown, Ky.) added 16 points, six rebounds and six assists. Freshman Heather Finnell (Decatur, Tenn./Cleveland) contributed 13 points to the effort.
Freshman Kelsey Ploof (Noblesville) (pictured) was the fourth Engineer to reach double figures with 12 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Lauren Meadows (Indianapolis/Brebeuf) also provided nine points.
Defiance shot 55% from the field in the first half to build up a 46-30 lead at the break. Rose-Hulman opened the second half on a 7-0 run to immediately close within 46-37 on a score by Ploof.
The second half run reached 18-2 as Rose-Hulman knotted the score at 48-48 on a jumper by Dickerson at the 13:05 mark. The Engineers claimed the lead at 52-51 on another score by Dickerson with 10:49 left.
Defiance answered with a 15-2 spurt of its own to capture a 66-54 lead with 6:54 remaining. The Yellow Jackets built the lead to 14 points at 72-58 with 4:54 left.
Rose-Hulman made a final charge of 12-3 to close within 75-70 in the final 30 seconds on another score by Dickerson. Defiance hit four straight free throws down the stretch to secure the final margin of victory.
Erica King led five Defiance players in double figures with 17 points. Hannah Harshman scored 14 points, with Molly Bateman contributing 13.
Defiance improved to 7-10 overall and 5-5 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play, while Rose-Hulman dropped to 6-11 and 4-6 in league games. The Fightin' Engineers host Franklin College on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.