Granville, Ohio - DePauw trimmed a 15-point deficit to two points with just over two minutes left, but host Denison held on for a 54-48 North Coast Athletic Conference win over the Tigers. DePauw dropped to 12-5 overall and 5-1 in the NCAC, while the Big Red improved to 12-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play.

Denison never trailed in the contest and built as much as a 13-point lead in the first half on the way to a 34-23 halftime advantage.

The Big Red scored the first four points of the third period to extend the lead to 38-23. Ava Hassel countered with four straight before Olivia Hart hit a free throw and Tori Allen and Ainsley Boras each made baskets to cap the 9-0 run and trim the deficit to 38-32 with 2:38 left in the third. Denison took a 46-35 lead into the fourth quarter after finishing the third with a 6-1 stretch.

Hart opened the fourth with a bucket before Hassel knocked in a three and two free throws to close the gap to 46-42. Denison made a couple of free throws and Allen followed with a jumper to make it 48-44 with just over six minutes left.

Nearly four minutes passed before the next score as Riley Mont made a pair of free throws with 2:12 remaining to cut the lead to 48-46.

Ada Taute's layup made it 50-46 and the Tigers committed a turnover and missed a trey on their next two possessions while Haute hit a layup to extend Denison's lead to 52-46 with 39 seconds left. The teams exchanged baskets and the Tigers were unable to get closer than six.

Hassel led DePauw with 13 points, while Olivia Hart grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.

Taute scored 14 for the Big Red followed by Abby Cooch and Morgan Kress with 12 each. Cooch, Kress and Abigail Westmeyer each had eight rebounds and Cooch dished out five assists.

The Tigers shot 27.1 percent from the field and hit just 1-of-17 from 3-point range, while Denison connected on 35.4 percent and only 1-of-14 from beyond the arc. The Big Red outrebounded DePauw, 55-36 and outscored the Tigers in the paint, 38-20.

DePauw returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 20, when it travels to Wooster for a 2 p.m. NCAC  game.