DPU women win SCAC

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The DePauw University women's basketball team captured its third Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship in the last four years defeating Oglethorpe, 73-60, over the weekend and earned a fourth straight NCAA Division III Championship appearance.

The Tigers found themselves in unfamiliar territory with just more than nine minutes remaining in the game -- behind. That soon turned around as Jenna Fernandez made a putback and Liz Bondi slashed inside for a layup. Cassie Pruzin kept the scoring going with two free throws and Gretchen Haehl drained a three-pointer to cap the run. When all was said and done, DePauw has seized the lead, 55-50, and never looked back.

Although the Stormy Petrels came close after Courtney Reed hit a basket to close the gap to three, the Tiger did what they do best. Caitlin McGonigal hit two three-pointers and Bondi drained a jumper to make the score, 63-54 with just over five minutes on the clock.

Down the stretch, DePauw scored five straight points and walked away with the victory. Liz Bondi led the way for the Tigers with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds which earned her the tournament Most Valuable Player for the second straight year. Emily Marshall earned a spot on the all-tournament team, adding nine points and nine rebounds.

The Stormy Petrels were led by Katie Kulavic with 16 points and Anna Findley with 12. Brittany Corbett finished the game with 11 points while Caitlin Brightwell chipped in 10 in the loss.

The night before, the DePauw women's basketball team reached the finals against Oglethorpe by dominating the Austin Kangaroos, 67-38.

Kalei Lowes hit a three-pointer with 17 seconds into the game and Cassie Pruzin added a pair to lift the Tigers to a 9-0 lead with 18:30 left in the first half. They extended that margin to as much as 21 on the way to a 38-19 halftime lead. DePauw sealed the win after opening the second half with an 8-3 stretch.

Liz Bondi paced the Tigers with 13 points and shared the rebounding lead with Jenna Fernandez as each had six. Suzy Doughty added four assists and four steals. Katy Williams led Austin with 13 points.

DePauw held the Kangaroos to just 30.2 percent shooting while shooting 40.6 percent from the floor to earn the win.

DePauw closed its season with a 25-3 record.

At Memphis, Tenn.

SCAC Finals

Oglethorpe 30 30 -- 60

DePauw 29 44 -- 73

DePauw (73) -- Doughty 8, Pruzin 7, Lowes 4, Bondi 16, Marshall 9, McGonigal 8, Gretchen Haehl 8, Gwen Haehl 3, Fernandez 2, Bailey 6. Totals: FG 25-65 FT 16-24 TP 73

Oglethorpe (60) -- Katie Kulavic 16, Findley 12, Brittany Corbett 11,Grace 5, Johnson 4, Brightwell 10, Courtney Reed 2. Totals: FG 21-53 FT 11-15 TP 60.

3pt. FG -- DePauw 7 (Bondi 2, McGonigal 2, Gr. Haehl, Gw. Haehl, Pruzin), Oglethorpe 7 (Findley 4, Corbett 3).

At MemphisSCAC Quarterfinals

At Memphis

Austin 19 19 -- 38

DePauw 38 29 -- 67

Austin (38) -- Chesney 2, Smith 8, Laski 6, Williams 13, Fitzgerald 2, Moran 1, J. Bauer 6. Totals: FG 13-43 FT 12-16 TP 38.

DePauw -- Doughty 11, Pruzin 9, Lowes 3, Bondi 13, Marshall 4, McGonigal 2, Gr. Haehl 6, Gw. Haehl 3, Fernandez 2, Bailey 6, Travelstead 8. Totals: FG 26-64 FT 9-11 TP 67.

3pt. FG -- Austin 0, DePauw (Doughty, Lowes, Gw. Haehl, Pruzin 3).

Rebounds: Austin 31, DePauw 40.

Scoring by periods 1st 2nd Total