DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Manchester women's basketball team defeated the Defiance College Yellow Jackets by a final score of 73-51 on Tuesday, February 13th. 
 
The Spartans jumped out to a 9-2 lead to start the first quarter of Tuesday night's game. Manchester would continue their offensive efficiency, ending the opening quarter on top 22-11. Manchester held the Yellow Jackets scoreless throughout the opening five minutes of the second quarter. The Black and Gold would keep their lead going into half 38-23.
 
The Spartans extended their lead to 28, their biggest of the game, thanks to a three-pointer by first-year Kinsey Atkins (Warsaw, Ind., Triton) with 4:02 left in the fourth quarter. Manchester finished the game strong, taking Tuesday's game by a final score of 73-51 to improve to 7-17 overall and 4-13 in HCAC play. 
 
As a team, the Spartans shot 44.8% (26-58) and pulled down 43 rebounds with 12 steals. Defiance shot 34% from the floor and was held to a 15.8 three-point shooting percentage on Tuesday night.
 
Leading the way for the Spartans was Kendal Rider (Otterbein, Ind., Lafayette Central Catholic) with a season-high 24 points, shooting 8-9 from the floor and 3-4 from beyond the three-point arc. Maddi Smith (Kewanna, Ind., Caston) added 17 points, five rebounds, and three steals. Abigail Rosenkrans (Pendleton, Ind., Pendleton Heights) chipped in eight points and seven rebounds for the Black and Gold. 
 
Defiance was led by Aliaza Clark and Zadria King with 10 points apiece. The Yellow Jackets are now 0-24 overall and 0-17 in conference play.
 
Up next, Manchester will host Anderson University in the Spartans' home finale on Friday, December 16. The women will tip off at 7:30 p.m. in Stauffer-Wolfe Arena.