GRANVILLIE, Ohio – One day after holding nationally ranked Trine University to 52 points and 28.6 percent shooting, the Kenyon College defense did not rest Sunday. At neutral-site Denison University, the Ladies basketball team stifled the Earlham College Quakers in a 68-56 non-conference victory.

The Ladies, who ranked eighth in the nation last season in field goal percentage defense (31.5 percent), continued that game plan against Earlham, holding the Quakers to 29.1 percent shooting (16-of-55). That included an 11.8 percent (2-of-17) showing from long range. Through three games this season, the Ladies have held opponents to a combined 30.6 percent shooting and 20.0 percent shooting from three-point range.

The 56 points allowed were actually the most scored against the Ladies this season, but that total was a bit deceiving, as the Quakers scored 24 points when the Ladies defense loosened up a bit in the fourth quarter. In the previous three quarters, the Ladies allowed just 32 points on 22.5 percent shooting (9-of-40).

With the defense in control, Kenyon's offense got a kick from junior guard Jessica Gerber. She buried a trio of three-pointers, was 4-for-4 at the free throw line and ended up with a game-high 17 points. She also had a team-high five assists. Junior Lane Davis added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Ellie Schaub tossed in another 10 points. Sophomore Paige Matijasich contributed seven points and eight rebounds, while senior Ifeoma Archimalo went for seven points and seven boards.

The Ladies led just 11-10 after one quarter of play, but opened things up in the second quarter with 22 points to take a 33-24 lead into the half. In that second quarter, Kenyon scored the first eight points off a couple of three-pointers from Schuab and a field goal from Kiele Anderson. Davis, Archimalo and Griffin Tullis each tacked on four points in the frame as the Ladies created some breathing room.

When Earlham came out of the halftime break looking to close the gap, Kenyon would have none of it. The Ladies allowed just one field goal and eight points in the third quarter while building a 49-32 advantage heading into the final frame.

Earlham (0-2) made a bit of a run in the fourth quarter, but the Quakers never got closer than ten points. Zoe Curtis and Shannon Pittman accounted for nearly half of the Earlham offense. Pittman scored 17 and Pittman added 11.

The Ladies (2-1) play again Tuesday at 7 p.m. in their home-opening game against John Carroll University.