Bloomington, Ill. - DePauw held a 37-36 lead late in the third period, but a Washington University three with the clock running down started the ninth-ranked Bears on a game-ending 24-11 run and a 60-48 victory over the Tigers in the opening game of Illinois Wesleyan's Midwest Challenge.

DePauw, 3-1, faces the loser of the Illinois Wesleyan/Illinois College game at 1 p.m. CST tomorrow. The 4-0 Bears advance to tomorrow's 3 p.m. CST championship game.

WashU used a 10-2 second-quarter run to pull away from the Tigers and take a 28-20 halftime lead. DePauw opened the third period with an 8-2 stretch that trimmed the Bears' lead to two. Sydney Kopp's three-pointer with 32 seconds left in the third gave the Tigers a 37-36 advantage, but Jenn Dynis countered with a three as the quarter ended to give the Bears a 39-37 lead.

DePauw still trailed 43-39 in the opening minute of the fourth, but the Bears scored the next five and eight of the next 10 to push the margin to 51-41. The Tigers got no closer than seven the rest of the way.

The Tigers, playing without Emily Budde for the second straight game, were led by Claire Ryan's 13 points and three assists. Kopp followed with 12 and Maya Howard 10. Ryan and Melinda Franke each grabbed eight rebounds. 

Rachel Sondag led WashU with 16 points with Dynis adding 13 and Becca Clark-Callender 11. Madeline Homoly led the way with eight rebounds and Zoe Vernon had five assists and three blocks.