Tigers Clinch Fourth Straight NCAC Outright Title with Win over Battling Bishops

Box Score

Greencastle, Ind. - Third-ranked DePauw outscored Ohio Wesleyan 28-6 in the fourth quarter and clinched the outright North Coast Athletic Conference title with a 77-56 win over Ohio Wesleyan. The Tigers moved to 22-1 overall and 14-0 in the conference with their 18th straight win, while the Battling Bishops dropped to 12-11 overall and 7-7 in conference play.

Ohio Wesleyan opened the game with 3-pointers on its opening two possessions to take a 6-0 lead, but the Tigers gained the lead by scoring the next 11. After the Battling Bishops evened the count at 14-14, DePauw scored the final five of the quarter for a 19-14 advantage. The Tigers opened the second period with five straight to push the lead to double digits and headed to the halftime intermission with a 35-27 lead.

The Battling Bishops put together a 23-point third quarter and took a 50-47 lead after Nicole Popovich converted a three-point play with 40 seconds left in the quarter. Mya Shannon's layup cut the Tigers' deficit to 50-49 as the teams moved to the fourth. DePauw held a 53-52 lead three minutes into the final quarter and Sydney Kopp extended it to four points with a 3-point play. Hayley Cange added two free throws and Kopp scored on a break after Claire Keefe's steal to push the lead to 61-52.

Following a timeout, Ohio Wesleyan countered with a bucket but Kopp and Keefe quickly converted baskets to start a 14-0 run that sealed the win.

Keefe and Kopp each scored 23 in the win, while Cange added 10. Kopp paced the Tigers with nine rebounds and five steals and Grace Kinsey dished out five assists.

Claire Sterling led Ohio Wesleyan with 20 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

DePauw shot 51.0 percent for the game including 65 percent in the second half, while Ohio Wesleyan connected on 38.9 percent from the floor. The Tigers outscored the Battling Bishops from the line 19-7 and held a 39-21 edge on the boards for a 25-8 edge in second-chance points.

The Tigers travel to Denison on Wednesday, Feb. 19, for an 8 p.m. NCAC contest against the Big Red.

This Freaky Fast postgame report is sponsored by Jimmy John's in Greencastle, Indiana.

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Players Mentioned

#23 Hayley Cange: F; 5' 10"; Junior; I choose DePauw because of its friendly community and warm atmosphere. I felt welcomed from the moment I stepped on campus and knew that this school was the place for me.

#34 Claire Keefe: F; 6' 0"; Junior; The close knit community and the competitive atmosphere of the basketball team

#5 Grace Kinsey: G; 5' 10"; Sophomore; I chose DePauw because I loved the sense of community on the campus during my visits. I also felt DePauw had a really good balance between academics and athletics, while still providing the opportunity to travel abroad and explore other interests.

#30 Sydney Kopp: G; 5' 7"; Senior; It has great academics and athletics

#14 Mya Shannon: G; 5' 6"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#23 Hayley Cange
: 5' 10"; Junior; I choose DePauw because of its friendly community and warm atmosphere. I felt welcomed from the moment I stepped on campus and knew that this school was the place for me.
: F

#34 Claire Keefe
: 6' 0"; Junior; The close knit community and the competitive atmosphere of the basketball team
: F

#5 Grace Kinsey
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; I chose DePauw because I loved the sense of community on the campus during my visits. I also felt DePauw had a really good balance between academics and athletics, while still providing the opportunity to travel abroad and explore other interests.
: G

#30 Sydney Kopp
: 5' 7"; Senior; It has great academics and athletics
: G

#14 Mya Shannon
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: G