SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Defiance College outscored Albion College 9-5 in the final 3 ½ minutes to send the Britons to a 45-42 loss in the consolation game of the Charles B. Zimmerman Memorial Classic.
Albion trailed by as many as 10 in the second half. Emily DeWaters, Brett de Bear, and Katie Thompson combined to sink six free throws and Tanner Johnson tacked on two baskets as the Britons ripped off a 12-3 run to take a 37-36 lead with four minutes left.
Defiance regained the lead when Erica King buried a 3-point basket and Hannah Harshman added a layup. Harshman sank two free throws to put the Yellow Jackets on top, 45-40, with 24 seconds to play. King led all players with 13 points and Kim Comden added 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Yellow Jackets.
de Bear cut the margin to three with a basket with 13 seconds left, and Albion had a chance to forge a tie in the waning seconds after Thompson collected a steal.
Thompson reached double figures for the third time this season with 10 points. de Bear and Johnson finished with nine points apiece.
Albion, 3-10 overall, returns to its Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association slate Jan. 5 with a road trip to Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Ind.