Box score

Franklin, Ind. - The DePauw women's basketball team may have played its best half of basketball this season in building as much as a 15-point lead in the opening 20 minutes on the way to a 74-65 win over previously unbeaten Franklin.

The win, the Tigers' fourth straight, lifts their overall record to 5-2. Franklin slipped to 7-1 on the campaign.

With first semester final exams beginning on Monday, head coach Kris Huffman gave her Tigers high marks.

"I give it an  "A"," said DePauw head coach Kris Huffman when asked to grade the Tigers' performance.

She then smiled and said, "maybe an A- after we missed some free throws down the stretch."

The host Grizzlies led briefly in the opening two minutes, but the Tigers took a 27-17 lead with 10:11 left in the half after a 9-2 run which ended with five straight points from Kim Weigle.

Franklin closed the gap to 34-32 with 4:47 left, but the Tigers scored the next 13 points over a four-minute stretch to take a 15-point advantage. Amy Argetsinger started the run with a layup and a three-pointer before Tria Yoder hit a three, Weigle scored inside and Heather Wiles completed a three-point play.

The teams went to the break with DePauw leading, 47-34, in its most productive half of the season. The 47 points were the most by the Tigers in the first half since they scored 54 against Rose-Hulman during the 1999-2000 season.

While Franklin hit 50 percent of its field goal tries to the Tigers' 48.8, DePauw held a decisive 23-14 edge on the boards.

The Grizzlies made a couple of second-half runs to close to within five, but the Tigers held off the Franklin runs and pushed the lead back to 12 at 73-61 with 1:43 left. DePauw hit just one of seven free throws down the stretch, however.

Weigle led the Tigers with a season-high 15 points, while Sarah MacKay added 10. DePauw hit a season-best five three-pointers including two each from Weigle and Yoder. Tiffany Pittman led Franklin with 15, while Jenny Cramer chipped in 13.

DePauw finished with a 44-35 advantage on the boards as Jill Schneider, Weigle and Dana Ferguson each grabbed six. Sayra Hopkins paced the Grizzlies with six rebounds.

The Tigers return to action on Saturday, December 15, when they travel to Luther College in Iowa.