Franklin, Ind. - The Franklin College women's basketball team will be the No. 3 seed for next week's Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) tournament. The Grizzlies will play No. 6 seeded Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in the first round on Friday, February 28 at 8 p.m. from Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky.

Franklin (13-12 overall, 11-7 in HCAC) missed two shots in the final eight seconds to lose 62-60 at Defiance College on Saturday.

Freshman Kayle Comer (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) led three double-figure scorers for the team with 16 points. Sophomore Katie Brewer (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Lauren DeSutter (Pittsboro, Ind./Tri-West) added 11 points.

After trailing at halftime, Defiance (11-14, 8-10 HCAC) opened the second half on a 10-0 run and took a 40-35 lead with 16:07 left.

Franklin freshman Mandy Fisher (Mooresville, Ind./Mooresville) tied the game at 45-45 after a jumper with 10:01 remaining.

Defiance took a 55-46 lead at the 6:20 mark after a three-point field goal by Ashley Birchmeier.

The Grizzlies battled back behind a three-point field goal from DeSutter and a basket by Comer on consecutive possessions. A layup from junior Lindsey Dall (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) cut the deficit to 55-53 with 4:42 left.

Comer connected on her fourth three-point field goal of the game to trim the Defiance lead, 59-58, with 1:33 left. She later tied the game at 60-60 with a basket with 36 seconds left.

However, Defiance's Megan Zachrich made a layup with 16 seconds remaining to give the hosts the 62-60 advantage. After a Franklin timeout, Brewer and DeSutter both missed potential game-tying shots in the closing seconds.

Franklin led 35-30 at halftime after making 56 percent of their shots.

Defiance's Kelsey Tietje led the team with 16 points and eight rebounds. Erica King added 12 points.