Defiance, Ohio - The Franklin College women's basketball team missed a potential game-tying three-point field goal attempt in the final seconds to drop a 55-52 contest at Defiance College in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) action on Saturday.

The Grizzlies used a 17-5 run over the final 8:50 of the first half to tie the game at 30-30 after the opening 20 minutes.

The second half featured a defensive battle. Defiance (5-10, 4-4 HCAC) took a 44-41 lead after a layup by Megan Zachrich with 6:25 left. The Yellow Jackets held a nine point lead, 50-41, following a jumper by Kelsey Tietje at the 3:22 mark.

Franklin (8-6, 6-2 HCAC) chipped away at the deficit behind two consecutive three pointers by freshman Madi Kolthoff (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove). Kolthoff's second shot from behind the arc cut the deficit to 52-49 with 1:36 left.

Defiance answered with a three-point field goal by Ashley Williams on its next offensive possession. Franklin's Kolthoff converted a three-point play to bring the visitors within three points, 55-52, with 43 seconds remaining.

The Yellow Jackets turned the ball over to allow Franklin an attempt to tie the game. Sophomore Lauren DeSutter (Pittsboro, Ind./Tri-West) missed a three pointer with eight seconds left.

DeSutter scored a game-high 15 points, including 13 points in the first half. Sophomore Kayle Comer (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) added 10 points off the bench. Senior Nichole Thompson (Greenwood, Ind./Greenwood) scored eight points and had 10 rebounds.

Defiance's Tietje scored 14 points and had 14 rebounds in the victory.

Franklin returns to action on Wednesday, January 21, at 7:30 p.m. when it hosts nationally ranked Transylvania University from the Spurlock Center. Live statistics and video of the game will be available. In-game updates will also be available on Twitter (@FCAthletics) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinCollegeAthletics).