DePauw women win eighth-straight

The 12th-ranked DePauw women's basketball team led by as many as 18 in the first half and 31 in the second on the way to an 81-56 win over visiting Birmingham-Southern.

The Tigers improved to 19-3 with their eighth straight win and 23rd consecutive home victory, while the Panthers dropped to 17-5. The victory was also DePauw's 42nd straight regular season win at the Neal Fieldhouse.

DePauw used a 12-0 run midway through the first half to extend a six-point lead to 31-13 as it took a 33-20 advantage into the break.

The Panthers closed the gap to 10 early in the second half, but DePauw scored 10 straight at the start of a 14-2 run. Birmingham-Southern got as close as 15 at 51-36, but the Tigers outscored the guests 23-7 over a seven-minute stretch to grab their biggest lead at 74-43.

Jenna Fernandez paced the Tigers with a game-high 20 points, nine rebounds and three steals, while Cassie Pruzin dropped in 15 points, seven rebounds and a game-high five assists. Andrea Travelstead added 10 in the win.

Courtney Gibson paced Birmingham-Southern with 13 points, while Mallory Mooring added 10. Brittany Allison grabbed eight rebounds in the loss.

The Tigers shot 46 percent for the game including 51.5 percent in the second half, while the Panthers connected on just 37.5 percent and 28 percent in the first half.

DePauw held a 44-27 advantage on the boards including 16 offensive rebounds.

At DePauw

Birmingham-Southern 20 36 -- 56

DePauw University 33 48 -- 81

BIRMINGHAM-SOUTHERN (17-5) -- Courtney Gibson 5-9 0-0 13; Mallory Morring 3-9 1-2 10; Elyse Clay 2-8 3-4 7; Brittany Allison 3-5 0-0 6; Katelyn Wilson 2-5 0-1 5; Morgan Talbot 2-4 1-1 5; Danielle Harbor 2-9 0-0 4; Deirdre Hilliard 1-4 2-2 4; Sandra Graben 1-1 0-0 2; Jamie Key 0-1 0-0 0; DeAdria Hilliard 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-56 7-10 56.

DEPAUW UNIVERSITY (19-3) -- Jenna Fernandez 9-16 2-2 20; Cassie Pruzin 4-9 5-5 15; Andrea Travelstead 2-2 6-6 10; Emily Marshall 4-6 0-0 8; Gwen Haehl 3-6 0-0 7; Kalei Lowes 2-4 0-2 5; Katie Mathews 2-6 0-1 4; Gretchen Haehl 1-8 0-0 3; Courtney Lauer 1-1 1-1 3; Adedrea Chaney 1-1 1-2 3; Sarah Merkel 0-0 2-2 2; Heidi Keiser 0-0 1-2 1; Brianna Frigerio 0-4 0-0 0; Kristin Barrow 0-0 0-0 0; Nancy Tobik 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-63 18-23 81.

3-point goals--Birmingham-Southern 7-20 (Mallory Morring 3-7; Courtney Gibson 3-6; Katelyn Wilson 1-2; Morgan Talbot 0-2; Danielle Harbor 0-1; Deirdre Hilliard 0-1; Brittany Allison 0-1), DePauw University 5-17 (Cassie Pruzin 2-5; Gwen Haehl 1-2; Gretchen Haehl 1-6; Kalei Lowes 1-2; Brianna Frigerio 0-2). Fouled out--Birmingham-Southern-Morgan Talbot, DePauw University-None. Rebounds--Birmingham-Southern 27 (Brittany Allison 8), DePauw University 44 (Jenna Fernandez 9). Assists--Birmingham-Southern 13 (Danielle Harbor 3), DePauw University 17 (Cassie Pruzin 5). Total fouls--Birmingham-Southern 22, DePauw University 14. Technical fouls--Birmingham-Southern-None, DePauw University-None. A-500