Tigers preparing for big game

Heading into Friday's game against Wheaton College, the DePauw women's basketball team is red-hot, winning 27 straight games.

"Everyone's just doing their role," Coach Kris Huffman said. "We don't have any All-Stars on the team. They're just very competitive and they hate to lose."

The Tigers boast a 28-1 record on the season, and host the 25-4 Thunder Friday at 7 p.m.

Wheaton is coming off a 75-48 win over Maryville (Mo.) University Saturday. All-American post player Jill Trenz led the Thunder with 16 points and nine rebounds in the game.

Trenz is second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.4 points, and first in rebounding, pulling down 8.6 boards per game.

The Thunder's leading scorer is Elizabeth Fox, who is averaging 13.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest, while Brittany Cooper is also a proven threat, averaging 10.1 points and 6.1 boards per game.

The Tigers are coming off a 86-58 second-round win over Maryville (Tenn.) College Friday.

Southern Collegiate Conference Player of the Year Liz Bondi paved the way for DePauw, scoring 19 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.

Bondi has led the Tigers all year, averaging 17.3 points and seven rebounds per game.

"She's a tremendous player," Huffman said. "She just gives us an offensive intensity that we haven't had in the past."

Center Bridget Bailey is second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.2 points and six boards, while Gretchen Haehl is putting up nine points per game.

Point guard Suzy Doughty leads the Tigers in assists, averaging 4.4, while scoring 8.9 points per contest.

Along with Bailey, Lindsay Houin will also likely be an inside force for the Tigers, as she is averaging 7.9 points and seven rebounds per game.

Other key contributors for the Tigers are Cassie Pruzin (7.4 points per game), Caitlin McGonigal (6.5 points), Kalei Lowes (6.3 points) and Gwen Haehl (4.0 points), who are all averaging more than 15 minutes per contest.

As a whole, DePauw is averaging 80.7 points, 42.3 rebounds and 17.3 assists per game, while holding its opponents to 58.7 points per contest.

The Thunder are putting up 65 points, 39.3 rebounds and six assist per game, while holding their opponents on to an average of 49.7 points per contest.

Wheaton has won six straight games and nine of its last 10.

If the Tigers get past the Thunder, they will face the winner of Hope College and Washington University (Mo.), which is the first game at Neal Fieldhouse Friday at 5 p.m.

"We just want to play on Saturday," Huffman said. " That's all we know."

It just so happens that Washington handed the Tigers their only loss of the season, 72-61, on Nov. 19.

"Washington is extremely talented," Huffman said. "If I remember right, we didn't defend very well. And we were outrebounded."

It's no surprise that the Tigers were outrebounded, are averaging 45.2 rebounds per contest. They are also averaging 76.6 points, while holding their opponents to an average of 55.7 points per contest.

Washington is 25-2 on the season, and are led by Kelly Manning, averaging 19.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, and Danielle Beehler, putting up 16.2 points and pulling down 8.4 boards per game.

With the NCAA tourney whittled down to the elite, Huffman knows every game will be a big challenge.

However, this is nothing knew for the Tigers.

"It's been challenging day in and day out," she said. "It seems like we get everybody's best game."

Regardless of what happens in the future, as of right now, the Tigers are still alive in well.

"Sixteen teams are practicing this week," Huffman said. "We're happy to be one of those teams practicing. We're just hoping our season lasts as long as possible."