DePauw women to face Transylvania in tournament

Tuesday, February 27, 2007
DePauw's Kalei Lowes elevates for a shot. Lowes and the Tigers will host Transylvania in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament Friday, beginning at 7 p.m.

GREENCASTLE -- Thanks to a sturdy ranking all year and a championship title in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament last weekend, the DePauw University women's basketball team will host two games in the NCAA Division III Championships.

The Tigers (25-3) earned an automatic bid into the tournament after winning the SCAC Championship Sunday. They will open postseason play Friday, hosting Transylvania at 7 p.m.

The Pioneers earned an at-large bid into the tournament after finishing 19-8.

In neutral court games this season, Transylvania is 2-3, but the Pioneers were 7-4 in non-conference contests this season.

As a team, Transylvania is averaging 72.6 points per game while limiting opponents to 63.1 points per contest. The Pioneers are shooting 42 percent from the field while allowing opponents only 40 percent.

In addition, Transylvania is shooting 34 percent from beyond the arc.

Julie Leach leads the Pioneers on offense with an average of 19.6 points per game, having scored 528 points in 27 games. In addition, Cindy Beavin averages 10 points per game while Brittany Hederlight scored 9.5 and Jessica Gilbert averages 9.1.

Leach also averages 10.7 rebounds per game in only 32 minutes of action while also dishing out 2.1 assists. Beavin averages 5.5 assists per game to lead the team.

Leach has hit 57 percent of her field goals this season, going 182-for-320 from the field, while also shooting 80 percent from the free throw line, connecting on 164-of-205 free throws.

The Tigers are 6-0 in neutral court games this season and were 12-1 in non-conference action.

As a team, Depauw averages 79.4 points per game while limiting opponents to just 54.2 points per contest.

SCAC Player of the Year Liz Bondi paces the Tigers on offense with an average of 16.1 points per game, having scored 403 points in 25 games.

Cassie Pruzin also contributes 8.9 points per game while Caitlin McGonigal is averaging 7.6 and Gretchen Haehl averages 7.1.

The Tigers outrebound their opponents by nearly 12 rebounds. Bondi leads the team on the glass with an average of 5.8 per game while Emily Marshall also tallies 5.7 per contest.

Suzy Doughty tops the team in assists, dishing out 151 this year for an average of 5.8 per game. In addition, doughty averages 6.9 points per game while also making 70 steals this year.

As a team, the Tigers shoot 48 percent from the field and 41 percent from beyond the arc while also hitting 71 percent from the charity stripe.

The Tigers and Pioneers played one common opponent this season. Transylvania knocked off Centre on Dec. 16, 73-56, while DePauw defeated Centre twice this season. The Tigers defeated Centre on Dec. 2, 101-48, and again on Feb. 3, 77-46.

Denison (24-4) will face Hope (24-3) in Friday's other game, set for 5 p.m. The winners will face each other Saturday at 7 p.m.

Tickets for each night are $6, while senior citizens, students and children will be admitted for $3. Children under 2 will be admitted free of charge as will DePauw students who show a valid student identification card.

Tickets will go on sale at 4 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday.

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