DePauw advances to NCAC final

Saturday, February 25, 2012
DePauw's Ali Ross led the Tigers with 13 points in its semi-final win over Wittenberg, 69-52.

The DePauw women's Tigers basketball team overcame a rough first half to earn a 69-52 win over Wittenberg and advance to the NCAC Tournament Final against Denison.

DePauw held a much as a 12-point lead in the first half, but Wittenberg was able to chip away and tie the game at 20-all. The Tigers utilized a 7-1 run to close the first half to take a 30-22 lead at halftime.

DePauw was able to carry that momentum into the half and started on a 10-3 run to build a 15 points lead. The Tigers were able to maintain a sizeable lead that hovered around that 15 point mark, but were never able to pull away from Wittenberg.

The Tigers biggest lead came with 4:16 remaining when Ali Ross hit a field goal to put DPU up 17 points at 61-44. DePauw and Wittenberg traded points for the remainder of the game with Alex Gasaway adding the final points with five seconds left to seal DePauw's 69-52 victory.

Ali Ross led DePauw with 16 points, with Savannah Trees adding 13 points. Katie Aldrich also scored in double figures, notching 10 points on the night.

Ellie Pearson scored nine points, as Kate Walker and Gasaway chipped in six points each. Emma Ondik scored three points, with Kathleen Molloy, Kathryn Denbow and Erin McGinnis contributing two points each.

The Tigers out-rebounded Wittenberg 37-30 and DePauw's bench outscored Wittenberg's bench 26-13.

In the first game of the night, Denison defeated Kenyon 64-49 to make it to the NCAC final. Nicole Coggins led the Denison with 21 points, with Serafina Nuzzo adding 16 points and Lydia Harlan with 12 points.

DePauw and Wittenberg have already faced twice this season with DPU winning both encounters. On Dec. 3 DePauw won 58-45 and on Jan. 18 64-37.

DePauw and Denison will play in the NCAC Final tonight at 7 p.m. at the Neal Fieldhouse.

At DePauw

NCAC Semi-Final

Wittenberg 22 30 -- 52

DePauw 30 39 -- 69

Individual Scoring

Wittenberg -- Haralamos 13, Small 11, Watson 9, Replogle 8, Clark 6, Rice 5. Totals: 20-54 FG, 7-15 FT, 52 TP.

DePauw -- Ross 16, Trees 13, Aldrich 10, Pearson 9, Walker 6, Gasaway 6, Ondik 3, Molloy 2, Denbow 2, McGinnis 2. Totals: 25-54 FG, 12-19 FT, 69 TP.