Final Score:  Defiance 64, Earlham 56
Location: Richmond, Indiana – Druley Performance Gym
Records: Earlham 0-4 / Defiance 2-6

RICHMOND, Indiana – Earlham College women's basketball battled through a sluggish shooting performance to stay neck-and-neck with visiting Defiance College through much of the game before falling to the Yellow Jackets, 64-56, on Saturday evening at the Druley Performance Gym.

Earlham finished the game with a 38.9 percent (21-of-54) shooting performance, while Defiance was firing at a 56.8 percent (25-of-44) clip.

However, the Quakers remained within striking range of the Yellow Jackets throughout the first two quarters and into the second half. Earlham and Defiance were tied at 30-30 at the 3:44 mark of the third quarter, before a 7-0 run by the Yellow Jackets broke the game open in Defiance's favor.

The Quakers battled back to within two of the Yellow Jackets, the last time at the 6:39 mark of the fourth quarter, when Kayla Bowling's pull-up jumper cut the margin to 47-45.

Defiance answered with a Kylie Brinkman 3-pointer and a layup from Briana Townley, which was the start of a 10-0 run by the Jackets who held at least a five-point lead the rest of the way.

Bowling led the Quakers with 19 points, including a 15-point effort in the second half, and charted six rebounds with three steals. Marissa Quiroz finished with 12 points, while Rosie Newhart and Emma Craig each tallied seven points.

Newhart also dished out five assists for the Quakers.

Kalyn Pickins led Defiance with 18 points.

Earlham women's basketball returns to action on Friday, Feb. 19, when the Quakers travel to Terre Haute, Indiana, to face Rose-Hulman. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:15 p.m.