DePauw returns to NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament play with Berea win

DePauw senior Lydia Stulken gets a shot up and in just before the third-quarter horn Friday night in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament against Berea. The Tigers’ return to postseason play got off to a successful start with a 74-52 win over the Mountaineers, advancing to face No. 12 Hope Saturday night

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

The DePauw Tiger women’s basketball team took advantage of hosting the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament by handing the Berea College Mountaineers a 74-52 loss at Neal Fieldhouse Friday night.

Twelve players scored for the Tigers, led by junior guard Ava Hassel with 12.

Berea came into the contest with 24 wins on the season and posed some matchup problems for the Tigers. In the opening period, it was a feeling out process.

Berea’s diminutive point guard Drea Satori was able to get penetration and put six points on the board. The balanced DePauw attack saw seven scores from seven different players to get the Tigers out to a 15-9 advantage after one.

The Tigers came out quickly firing in the second, scoring seven unanswered, boosting the lead to 13.

The Mountaineers were not going to go down quietly as they were able to get their inside game going with Lynkaylah James. They also got eight points off the bench from Kayla McClendon and got the Tiger lead down to eight before the half.

DePauw’s offense started firing on all cylinders in the second half as the Tigers’ depth started to take a toll on Berea.

DePauw landed four three balls while shooting more than 60 percent from the field in the third quarter, building up a 16-point advantage.

Berea fought back and got the lead down to 11 when Lily Huntzinger hit a three and DePauw executed a perfect press break to find Lydia Stulken for a basket before the buzzer as the Tigers led 55-39 going to the fourth.

The Mountaineers would not get closer than 15 the rest of the way. Berea was forced to pressure and DePauw was able to get to the foul line to finish out the opening-round win.

“I am really excited about the win. It’s been an awesome season, rallying everyone together. In my four years, the team chemistry has never been better,” DePauw senior center Lydia Stulken said.

There was no rest for the wicked though as the Tigers had a quick turnaround to take on No. 12-ranked Hope College Saturday night.

“In (Saturday’s) game, defense is going to be very important. Hope can stretch you from every angle. They have a big who can score, they have people who can beat you off the bounce and then they are kicking it out to three-point shooters. We will have to have a great defensive effort,” DePauw coach Kris Huffman said.

Hassel led the way with 12, Diana Burgher added nine while the Tigers got eight each from Ainsley Boras and Tori Allen. Boras led the way on the boards with eight and Olivia Hart added seven as DePauw outrebounded Berea 44-28.

The Tigers shot 50 percent from the field on the game and 53 percent from behind the arc.

Tipoff for round two was 8 p.m. from Neal Fieldhouse Saturday night.

Team Stats

Individual Stat Leaders

Scoring - (D) Hassle 12, Burgher 9, Boras 8, Allen 8, Hart 7, Stulken 6, Huntzinger 5, Mont 5, Prusko 5, Condra 4, McGinley 3, Barr 2; (B) James 14, Satori 11, McClendon 11, Moss 9, Spalding 3, Maddickes 2, Merriweather 1

Rebounding - (D) Boras 8, Hart 7, Burgher 5; (B) James 7, Spalding 6

Assists - (D) Hassle 4, six with 2; (B) Satori 4