Yellow Jackets Sting the Ravens

ANDERSON, IND. – The Defiance College women's basketball team traveled to Anderson, Ind. to face Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opponent Anderson (Ind.) University and defeated the Ravens, 78-64.

Junior Kelsey Tietje (Deshler/Patrick Henry) led the Yellow Jacket offense with a game-high 24 points (10-of-12 shooting) and grabbed a game-high 14 boards to notch her 10th double-double of the season. Freshman Sam Ervin (Bloomdale/Elmwood) scored 19 points (eight-of-18 shooting) and sophomore Mekai White (Cincinnati/Winton Woods) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 13 points (five-of-eight shooting).  In addition, sophomore Whitney Schalk (Bellevue) recorded a career and game-high 11 assists to go along with three points and six rebounds.

Anderson (3-15, 2-9 HCAC) got the ball rolling with seven unanswered points before Tietje was able to put Defiance (4-14, 3-8 HCAC) on the scoreboard, 7-2. The bucket from Tietje gave the momentum to the Yellow Jackets and after alternating possessions, tied the game, 11-11, with 4:50 on the clock. The Yellow Jackets took their first lead of the game at the two minute mark when White connected on a three-pointer, 16-15. Anderson answered back in the last couple of minutes to regain the lead and end the quarter ahead, 18-16.

Ervin began the second quarter by quickly scoring back-to-back baskets to bring the Yellow Jackets ahead by two points, 20-18. The Ravens scored once more before the Yellow Jackets went on a 9-0 run that included baskets from freshman Shelby Stamm (Bellevue), Ervin and Tietje to boost their lead to seven points, 31-24 with 5:45 on the clock. Defiance outscored the Ravens 11-4 the remainder of the quarter to take a commanding 14-point lead into the locker rooms, 42-28.

After intermission, the Yellow Jackets looked to extend their lead with a 7-3 run to begin the third quarter and bring the margin to 18 points, 49-31. A short lag in scoring allowed Anderson to get within 11 points, 49-38 at the 4:27 minute mark before a free-throw from Tietje and a triple from Stamm increased the margin to a more comfortable 15 points, 53-38. Alternating possessions wound down the clock and brought the quarter to an end with Defiance ahead, 59-40.

Despite efforts from Anderson, the Yellow Jackets took control of the fourth quarter, leading by as many as 24 points after Schalk scored from behind the arch making the score 67-43. The Ravens were able to get to within 14 points, but the Yellow Jackets stood firm, finishing the game ahead 78-64 at the final buzzer.

The Yellow Jackets will look to continue their winning ways when they host Hanover (Ind.) College on Saturday, Jan. 30 in HCAC play. The game will be a part of a basketball doubleheader with the Yellow Jacket men's team. The women's game will begin at 1 p.m., followed by the men at 3 p.m.