Yellow Jackets Fall in Overtime in Iowa

DUBUQUE, IOWA – The Defiance College women's basketball team traveled to Dubuque, Iowa to compete in the Jon Davison Classic and lost a tough battle in overtime against host school, University of Dubuque, 70-68.

Junior Kelsey Tietje (Deshler/Patrick Henry) led the Yellow Jackets in rebounds (16) and points (18) to record her fourth double-double of the season. Junior Erica Smay (Defiance/Tinora) scored 11 points (four-of-11 shooting), while sophomores Whitney Schalk (Bellevue) and Brittany Osborne (Union City, Ind. /Union City) rounded out the top-scorers with 10 points each.

Defiance (1-8) started the game strong with a quick 4-2 run in the first minute-and-a-half all from Tietje to make the score 4-2. The Spartans (4-6) stirred up a 10-0 run before a three-pointer from Smay at the 6:37 minute mark brought the score to 12-7. Back-and-forth baskets allowed the Yellow Jackets to get within four points after a three-pointer from Schalk with three minutes to play, 16-12. The final points in the quarter for Defiance came off the hands of sophomore Mekai White (Cincinnati/Winton Woods) and the Yellow Jackets found themselves trailing 22-15 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Defiance started to slowly chip away at the Spartan lead and got to within two points after a triple from White at the 4:24 minute mark to make the score 27-25. Dubuque then scored four quick points of their own before Smay connected from behind the arch to pull to within three points, 31-28 with just over two minutes to play. Defiance was able to score one more time with a buzzer-beater from Osborne to bring the score to 33-30 going into the locker rooms.

The Yellow Jackets began the third quarter with a three-pointer from Smay to tie the score at 33-33, just under a minute into play. Dubuque slowly regained the lead, and alternating baskets allowed Defiance to get within two points after two good free-throws from Tietje, 41-39. Defiance began to gain momentum and got within two points once again at the 55 second mark, 48-46. A mini 2-1 run from the Spartans at the end of the quarter, left the Yellow Jackets trailing 50-47 when time ran out.

The fourth quarter started out similar to the third, with a three-pointer from junior Ashley Williams (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) to tie the score at 50-50. The Spartans took control of the fourth and led the entire time until the very end of regulation with just 48 seconds left to play when freshman Sam Ervin (Bloomdale/Elmwood) made a layup in the paint to force to game into overtime, 63-63.

During overtime, the Yellow Jackets were unable to take the lead and eventually fell to the University of Dubuque by a final score of 70-68. All seven points from the Spartans came from the foul line as they went seven-of-eight from the charity stripe in the overtime period.

The Yellow Jackets will play in the consolation game against Augustana (Ill.) College tomorrow (Dec. 29). The start time is set for 2 p.m.