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DePauw women advance
GREENCASTLE -- A strong second half catapulted the DePauw University women's basketball team to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament Friday as the Tigers knocked off Transylvania, 74-54.
DePauw had only a 28-25 lead with less than 30 seconds to go in the first half when junior Gretchen Haehl found a seam inside for a three-point play, which seemed to give the Tigers a spark heading into the second half.
"That was a big bucket before halftime," DPU coach Kris Huffman said. "It was nice to see some emotion out there."
The Tigers roared out of the gates in the second half, outscoring Pioneers, 11-2, to take a 42-27 lead with less than 15 minutes to go in regulation.
Huffman said Suzy Doughty's layup to start the second half seemed to give the Tigers another spark.
"We were rushing a little (in the first half)," Huffman said. "We got that bucket to start the second (half) and felt a little more comfortable.
"We weren't normal (in the first half). Transylvania has to be the best 19-9 team in the nation. We knew it was going to be a battle."
DePauw's largest lead of the first half was eight points at the 8:50 mark.
But the Tigers dictated the pace in the second half, moving the ball up and down the court while proving to difficult to outrebound as DePauw tallied 49 rebounds in the contest while Transylvania had just 34.
"(The Tigers are) a deeper basketball team," Transylvania coach Greg Todd said. "They definitely picked it up offensively and defensively (in the second half). They took advantage of their depth."
"Depth has been a key for us all year long," Huffman said.
The Tigers extended their lead to 18 with 8:22 remaining after a free throw from Jenna Fernandez. But buckets by Cindy Beavin Brittany Henderlight and a free throw from Haley Riney pulled the Pioneers within 13 with close to six minutes remaining.
DePauw's leading scorer and Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year Liz Bondi then picked up her fourth foul at the 5:57 mark, but Haehl provided yet another spark with a three-pointer, pulling the Tigers up by 16, 59-43.
DePauw managed to maintain its lead thanks to key offensive putbacks and aggressive rebounding.
"We wanted to try to have a 15 rebound margin," Huffman said. "We really think (defense and rebound is) a key factor of who we are.
"I thought Gretchen kind of sparked us. She ran the show for a time in the second half. She's a great offensive threat. I think she gave everybody confidence."
Haehl led the Tigers with 18 points in only 18 minutes Friday. She also tallied three assists.
Bondi and Cassie Pruzin both had 10 points as well.
Transylvania's leading scorer, sophomore Julie Leach, finished with just 10 points and 13 rebounds. Her season averages are 19.6 points and 10.7 rebounds.
"I had a hard time finding the ball," Leach said. "They're really quick on defense and have a lot of strength inside."
Todd said the Pioneers' performance from beyond the arc hurt his club Friday. Transylvania was 2-for-18 from three-point range.
"We didn't make any perimeter shots," he said. "Normally, we're a pretty good perimeter shooting team. We struggled. Give them some credit, but a lot of the shots were open looks that just went out."
In Friday's first game, Denison upset defending champion Hope, 82-66.
Caitlin Krupka led Denison with 19 points while Kristen Sheffield tallied 12. Hope was paced by Sarah Jurik's 11 points.
"They looked amazing," Huffman said of Denison. "They have great depth and great defense. They were very, very impressive."
At DePauw
NCAA Division III Tournament
First Round
Transylvania 25 29 -- 54
DePauw 31 43 -- 74
Transylvania -- Distler 1-5 0-0 2, Beavin 5-14 2-3 12, Wilson 2-8 4-4 8, Leach 1-4 8-8 10, Hanson 1-4 0-0 2, Riney 0-1 1-2 1, McCarty 1-2 1-2 3, Shuffett 0-0 0-0 0, Young 0-0 0-0 0, Henderlight 2-7 2-4 6, Gilbert 3-8 2-2 10. Totals 16-53 FG, 20-25 FT, 54 TP.
DePauw -- Doughty 2-6 4-4 8, Pruzin 2-8 6-8 10, Lowes 1-6 0-0 2, Bondi 4-13 2-2 10, Marshall 1-2 0-0 2, Mahon 0-0 0-0 0, McGonigal 2-4 0-0 4, Gr. Haehl 6-11 5-5 18, Gw. Haehl 2-4 0-0 5, Fernandez 2-5 3-4 7, Bailey 4-8 0-0 8, Travelstead 0-0 0-0 0, Warner 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-67 FG, 20-23 FT, 74 TP.
3-pt. FG -- T 2-18 (Gilbert 2-5), D 2-12 (Gr. Haehl, Gw. Haehl 1-2). Rebounds -- T 34 (Lecah 13), D 49 (Fernandez 11). Blocks -- T 3 (Wilson, Hanson, Gilbert), D 4 (Bailey 3). Assists -- T 6 (Beavin 2), D 10 (Gr. Haehl 3). Steals -- T 5 (Hanson 2), D 12 (Doughty, Pruzin, Marshall, McGonigal 2). Total Fouls -- T 17, D 22. Fouled Out -- Beavin (T). Turnovers -- T 19, D 14.
Hope 18 48 -- 66
Denison 40 42 -- 82
Hope -- Greene 3-8 4-4 10, Henderson 0-3 0-0 0, Boles 4-14 0-0 9, Warsen 1-3 2-6 4, Wood 3-6 1-2 7, Kopke 0-1 2-2 2, Cowen 2-3 1-2 5, Gordon 0-0 0-0 0, Bosserd 0-0 0-0 0, Jurik 3-9 5-6 11, Knox 1-1 0-0 2, O'Hare 3-5 0-0 6, Lange 3-7 2-4 8, Bryant 1-2 0-0 2, Reincke 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-62 FG, 17-26 FT, 66 TP.
Denison -- O'Brien 2-4 7-10 11, Sheffield 5-8 2-2 12, Hoch 3-6 3-4 10, Krupka 6-11 2-2 19, Simpson 2-3 0-0 5, Washaw 0-2 4-4 4, Hard 0-1 0-0 0, Conners 0-0 0-0 0, Clites 0-0 0-0 0, Perrine 1-5 3-4 5, Mayo 0-0 0-0 0, Hill 2-7 2-2 7, St. Clair 0-0 0-0 0, Marshall 4-4 0-0 9. Totals 25-51 FG, 23-28 FT, 82 TP.
3-pt. FG -- H 1-15 (Boles 1-7), D 9-21 (Krupka 5-8). Rebounds -- H 35 (Greene, O'Hare 7), D 36 (Sheffield 6). Blocks -- H 2 (Lange 2), D 1 (Sheffield). Assists -- H 7 (Henderson 2), D 17 (Krupka, Hoch 3). Steals -- H 11 (Greene 3), D 8 (Vashaw 2). Total Fouls -- H 25, D 19. Fouled Out -- Greene (H), Sheffield (D). Turnovers -- H 15, D 19.
Next Game -- DePauw (26-3) will face Denison (25-4) today at 7 p.m. Transylvania finished the year at 19-9 while Hope ended its season at 24-4.