Defiance Finishes Jon Davison Classic by Defeating Augustana (Ill.)

DUBUQUE, IOWA – The Defiance College women's basketball team finished the two-day Jon Davison Classic on a high-note, defeating Augustana (Ill.) College, 63-56, in the consolation game.

Junior Kelsey Tietje (Deshler/Patrick Henry) led the Yellow Jackets in rebounds (15) and points (25) to record her fifth double-double of the season. Sophomore Whitney Schalk (Bellevue) was the only other Yellow Jacket to score in double-digits with 10 points (three-of-seven shooting).  

Defiance (2-8) began the game with a quick 5-0 run against Augustana (5-6) which included a jumper from Tietje and a triple from junior Erica Smay (Defiance/Tinora). The Yellow Jackets took control of the game quickly and led by as-many-as 15 points with just over two minutes to play, 23-8. The Yellow Jackets held the Vikings to just two more points to end the quarter and led, 23-10, after the first 10 minutes of play.

In the first few minutes of the second quarter, both teams were unable to connect with the basket until Tietje capitalized on two free-throws to extend the lead to 25-10 with seven minutes to play before halftime. Another lull in scoring ended once again from Tietje, this time with a single free-throw, 26-10. After a quick exchange of three-pointers between the teams, Defiance ended its scoring with a free-throw from junior Ashley Williams (Leipsic/Pandora-Gilboa) and then a pair of jumpers by junior Keri Conine (Ottawa/Pandora-Gilboa) and Schalk to boost the Yellow Jacket lead to 17 points, 34-17 going into halftime.

After halftime, the Yellow Jackets began the third with a layup from Schalk to extend the lead to 26-19 with nine minutes left on the clock. The Vikings scored four points of their own before Schalk was sent to the free-throw line and connected with both, to make the score 38-21 at the 5:24 minute mark. Back-and-forth baskets from each team winded down the clock. A layup and two free-throws from Tietje were the last points scored by both teams, finishing the third with DC leading, 46-28.

In the fourth, Defiance led by as-many-as 20 points, twice, the second and final time came off a layup from Schalk before the Vikings started to build momentum and chip away at the lead. The Yellow Jacket defense was able to hold off the Vikings and finished the game ahead 63-56.

At the conclusion of the Jon Davison Classic, Tietje was named to the All-Tournament team for her efforts over the two-day tournament.

The Yellow Jackets will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 2 when they host Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Mount St. Joseph University. The game will be 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.