DePauw, Wooster split pair

WOOSTER, Ohio — DePauw University grabbed a 27-7 lead after the first quarter and continued to pull away for a 78-41 North Coast Athletic Conference in women’s college basketball action.

The Tigers moved to 8-1 overall and 4-0 in the NCAC, while the Fighting Scots dropped to 1-7 overall and 0-3 in conference play.

The Tigers scored the game’s first seven points and the final 10 of the opening quarter on the way to a 20-point lead. In the opening 10 minutes, the Tigers shot 52.0 percent from the field including 4-of-6 from beyond the three-point line while holding Wooster to 15.8 percent.

Wooster’s Aki Shurelds opened the second period with a three, but DePauw scored the next 12 to push the lead to 39-10 with 4:16 left in the half. DePauw headed to the intermission with a 48-18 lead.

Claire Ryan posted her first career double-double with 18 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, while Maya Howard added 15 points and Taylor Howard 10. Blair Carlin came off the bench to lead the Tigers with four assists.

The Tigers held a 57-34 advantage on the boards which led to an 11-2 lead in second-chance points.

DePauw returns to action on Dec. 19, when it faces Vassar in Puerto Rico.

• Wooster (men) 82, DePauw 65 — At Wooster, Ohio, Jack VandeMerkt scored 18 and Luke Lattner had 15, but it wasn’t enough for the Tigers.

DePauw struggled to get anything going in the first half, shooting 21 percent and trailing 41-17 at halftime.

Wooster led by as many as 29 in the second half but to DePauw’s credit they outscored Wooster 48-41 in the final 20 minutes.

Andrew Kus scored eight, Cris Burrough scored six and Nate Jahn and James Clarke each had five points.

The Tigers drop to 3-5 overall and 1-2 in the NCAC. Wooster improves to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the conference.

DePauw is off until Dec. 18 when the Tigers host Hiram in another NCAC battle.