With six games under their belt, the Yeomen basketball team has yet to taste victory. With two more games left before the team tackles their first conference game, the Yeomen must shake off their loss to Defiance College on Wednesday night.

As the buzzer sounded throughout Phillips Gymnasium, the energized starters filed onto the court anxious to start the game. With hopes of swatting the Yellow Jackets, Oberlin’s excitement quickly diminished as Defiance lit up the scoreboard with a 4-0 lead only one minute into the game. Determined to prevail, first-year forward Mike Loll hastened down the court to gracefully hit a three-pointer.

Despite a matched effort by the Yeomen, Oberlin was unable to defy the strong defense or oppose the quick offense, losing the game by 31 points with a final score of 51-82. Junior guard Quinton Spencer and first-year center Brad Spelich both scored the team high of 15 points throughout the game.

One of Oberlin’s defining qualities is its ability to improve throughout a game as opposed to other teams who tire and falter towards the end. Scoring 19 points in the first half, Oberlin nearly doubled that sum in the second, scoring 32 points. Defiance, only missing 12 shots in the first, precisely doubled their errors and missed 24 in the second.

A team consisting of only one junior and the rest underclassmen, Oberlin looks to improve throughout the season. First-year forward Noah Goldman explains.

“So far this season we have gotten off to a slow start, but I think we are improving every game and starting to come together and play as a team,” he said.

The Yeomen have 4 games to claim a win before they depart for winter break. Sophomore guard Matt Godwin says, “There will be mistakes made since we are such a young team, but we are full of players anxious to get better and that is what makes a good team.”

Oberlin now stands 0-6 on the season but anticipates improvement.