Box Score RICHMOND, Ind. — Overtime wasn't the answer for the Earlham College women's basketball team on Wednesday night as the Quakers fell 81-73 to Defiance College.

After fighting back from a double-digit deficit in the second half of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference contest on Schuckman Court, the Quakers never led in the extra session.

Nikki Darrett (Evansville, IN, Bosse) led the Quakers with season-high 27 points. She also had four rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Bria Sneed (Indianapolis, IN, University) finished with 19 points to go with team-high totals of six assists and four steals.

Brittany Combs (Columbus, OH, Bishop Hartley) tossed in eight points, while Danielle Altman (Carthage, IN, Knightstown) added seven points as she led the Quakers with eight rebounds.

The Quakers trailed 8-2 early in the contest before scoring six straight to tie the game at 8-8 with 15:08 left in the opening stanza.

Defiance (7-9, 5-4) eventually held a 28-17 lead at the 7:05 mark. With 5:27 left in the first half, the Yellow Jackets still led 30-23.'

From that point, the Quakers finished the period with an 11-0 run to go into halftime on top 34-30.

In the second half, the Quakers started with back-to-back 3-pointers by Emily Sells (Winchester, IN, Winchester) and Darrett.

Darrett's trey put the Quakers in from 40-30 with 18:52 left to play.

The Yellow Jackets responded with a 14-0 run to build a 44-40 advantage with 13:08 remaining in the second half. Defiance eventually went on top 56-45 at the 7:55 mark and they led 62-51 with 5:30 on the clock.

Earlham was able to get back into contention and when Sneed hit a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left in regulation the score was tied 68-68.

Each team had one shot in the final moments of the second period but neither could make a game-winner.

In the overtime, Defiance got a 3-pointer and another basket to lead 73-68 with 3:25 left to play.

Darrett scored with 37 seconds left to make it 77-73, but the Quakers could not get any closer as the Yellow Jackets finished the game with four straight free throws.

Earlham (3-13, 1-8) visits nationally-ranked Franklin College on Saturday. The HCAC affair with the No. 18 Grizzlies gets underway at 1 p.m.

Box Score