Defiance College sets 2025-26 women’s basketball schedule

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College women's basketball team has set its 2025-26 schedule for the program's second year of NAIA competition, the athletic department announced on Thursday.

Led by third-year head coach Courtney Peay, the Yellow Jackets will get an early jump on the season with an Oct. 24 tipoff at Wilberforce, followed by a conference game at Siena Heights on Nov. 3. DC will play its first four games on the road before the home-opener against Rochester Christian on Nov. 18.

New for the non-conference slate includes an expanded Purple & Gold Tournament to celebrate the 50th installment of the annual college basketball showcase on Nov. 21-22. Both the DC women's and men's teams will host two full days of basketball at the Karl H. Weaner Center beginning at 1 p.m. The women's program will host Grace Christian, Great Lakes Christian and IU-Kokomo with the four teams playing two games each during the weekend festivities. 

The Yellow Jackets have also added two more exhibition games at NCAA Division I institutions with consecutive trips to Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green in December. 

DC's final 18 games starting Dec. 10 at Lawrence Tech are conference games within the WHAC, while the last 15 contests are scheduled to be doubleheaders with the men's team. 

2025-26 Defiance Women's Basketball Schedule
Oct. 24 at Wilberforce, 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 3 at Siena Heights, 7:30 p.m.*
Nov. 6 at Cumberlands, 7 p.m.
Nov. 7 vs. Southeastern, 1 p.m. (at Cumberlands)
Nov. 18 vs. Rochester Christian, 5:30 p.m.*
Nov. 21 vs. Grace Christian, 5 p.m. (Purple & Gold Tournament)
Nov. 22 vs. Great Lakes Christian, 5 p.m. (Purple & Gold Tournament)
Nov. 25 at Cornerstone, 5:30 p.m.*
Dec. 1 vs. Indiana-East, 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 3 vs. Lourdes, 5:30 p.m.*
Dec. 5 at Eastern Michigan, 2 p.m. (Exhibition)
Dec. 7 at Bowling Green, TBD (Exhibition)
Dec. 10 at Lawrence Tech, 5:30 p.m.*
Dec. 13 at UNOH, 1 p.m.*
Dec. 20 vs. Indiana Tech, 1 p.m.*
Jan. 3 at Michigan-Dearborn, 1 p.m.*
Jan. 7 vs. Madonna, 5:30 p.m.*
Jan. 10 at Aquinas, 1 p.m.
Jan 14 at Cleary, 5:30 p.m.*
Jan. 17 vs. Lawrence Tech, 1 p.m.*
Jan. 21 at Rochester Christian, 5:30 p.m.*
Jan. 24 vs. Siena Heights, 1 p.m.*
Jan. 28 at Lourdes, 5:30 p.m.*
Jan. 31 at Indiana Tech, 1 p.m.*
Feb. 4 vs. Cornerstone, 5:30 p.m.*
Feb. 7 vs. UNOH, 1 p.m.*
Feb. 11 at Madonna, 5:30 p.m.*
Feb. 14 vs. Michigan-Dearborn, 1 p.m.*
Feb. 18 vs. Cleary, 5:30 p.m.*
Feb. 21 vs. Aquinas, 1 p.m.*

*Denotes WHAC game

Quoting Head Coach Courtney Peay
We are excited about the season ahead of us! A brand new team and staff are preparing daily to compete with some of the best schools in the country. We are building something special here, and we are elated to get the ball rolling!

-JACKETS-