BOX SCORE
Springfield, Ohio - Number-one DePauw shot a season-low 29.5 percent from the floor, but turned 19 offensive rebounds into 15 points on the way to a 54-46 North Coast Athletic Conference win at Wittenberg.
The Tigers improved to 24-0 overall and 15-0 in NCAC play with their 49th straight regular season win and its 20th consecutive on an opponent's home court. Wittenberg dropped to 11-13 overall and 7-8 in the conference.
Wittenberg knocked in a pair of three-pointers to start the game, becoming the first DePauw opponent since Messiah on December 19 to score first against the Tigers in a game.
DePauw, however, scored 13 straight to gain a seven-point edge with 11 minutes left in the half. The half remained tight with Kathleen Molloy banking in a three with 33 seconds left and sending the Tigers to the locker room with a 25-22 lead.
The guests led 31-25 early in the second half, but Wittenberg scored the next eight to grab a 33-31 advantage. After the lead changed hands three more times, DePauw eventually pushed the margin back to six at 45-39 on Alex Gasaway's trey with just under six minutes remaining.
Wittenberg's Katelyn Haralamos' four three throws sandwiched a DePauw turnover and made it 45-43 with 4:56 left. Both teams struggled to convert on the offensive end before Enri Small went to the line with a chance to tie it. She hit one of the two charity tosses with 2:31 remaining and Gasaway's layup on the other end gave DePauw a 47-44 lead.
With just under two minutes to play, the hosts got out on a break but Harlamos was called for a charge. The Wittenberg bench disputed the call and was whistled for a technical foul. Savannah Trees connected on both free throws at the 1:46 mark to make it 49-44.
DePauw retained possession and, after grabbing an offensive rebound, pushed the lead to 51-44 on a pair of Kate Walker free throws. Amber Lara countered with a layup, but DePauw hit three-of-four free throws in the final 32 seconds for the win.
Gasaway posted her fifth career double-double with 18 points and a career-high equaling 14 rebounds including nine on the offensive glass. She scored 14 of those points and hauled in nine boards in the second half. Trees added 14 in the win.
Haralamos, Amber Rice and Sarah Skidmore each scored 10 and Rice hauled in six rebounds.
DePauw hosts Wooster at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the final tuneup before the NCAC Tournament.
For more information on the DePauw women's basketball program, follow DePauw on Twitter (@DePauwAthletics / @DePauw_WBB) or like them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/DePauwAthletics).
