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Sarah MacKay's 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds helped the Tigers to a 58-48 SCAC win over Centre. (photo: Marilyn Culler)

Greencastle, Ind. - Just nine months ago the Tigers' season came to an abrupt end as visiting Centre knocked off DePauw to finish in a three-way tie for the SCAC title with DePauw and Sewanee. Centre advanced to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16, while the Tigers had to wait until next year.

Next year started Friday night for DePauw and the Tigers came away with a 58-48 win over the visiting Colonels in a match-up of the two teams picked to win the 2001-02 SCAC title by the league's coaches.

The two teams struggled offensively in the first half as the Tigers shot just 26 percent from the floor and Centre only 39 percent, while the Colonels turned the ball over 14 times and the Tigers totaled 12. The Tigers built a 12-5 lead early with an 8-0 run sparked by Kim Weigle's three-pointer and five straight points by Sarah MacKay.

Centre battled back to score the next 11 points to take a 16-12 advantage with 9:58 remaining. DePauw went back up by five before Centre closed to within one at 23-22 at the break.

The Colonels took a 32-29 lead in the second half before the Tigers rattled off eight straight to take the lead for good.

Weigle scored 15 to lead the Tigers and MacKay added 11 and a game-high seven assists. Sarah Green paced Centre with 16 points and eight rebounds. Dana Ferguson and Colleen Powers proved to be forces off the bench for the Tigers as Ferguson grabbed 11 rebounds and Powers hauled down a career-best 10 boards.

The Tigers held a 38-29 advantage on the boards and committed just six second-half turnovers.

DePauw hosts Sewanee on Sunday at 3 p.m. Sewanee held on to beat Rose-Hulman on Friday by a 55-52 score.