DePauw's number-one ranked women extended their regular season win streak to 34 straight and collected their fourth win over a ranked opponent as they topped eighth-ranked Messiah, 63-49. The Tigers improved to 9-0, while the Falcons suffered their first loss in 10 tries.
Kira Maier scored Messiah's first seven points and the Falcons took control early, leading by as many as seven at 23-16 with just over seven minutes left in the first half. DePauw's Lauren Abendroth knocked down a three before Erin McGinnis hit a bucket and Emma Ondik followed with a trey to give the Tigers a 24-23 advantage with 4:17 remaining.
Messiah scored five straight to take a four-point lead, but Alex Gasaway scored twice in the final 1:03 to knot the score at 28 at the intermission.
The Tigers continued the run into the second half as Ellie Pearson converted a three-point play on the first possession before Gasaway and Ali Ross nailed three-pointers to make it 39-30.
The Falcons briefly closed the gap to seven before the Tigers scored six straight to push the lead to double digits where it stayed the rest of the way.
Gasaway led all scorers with 25 points, while Ross added 11 and eight rebounds. Kate Walker dished out five assists in the win.
Dori Gyori led Messiah with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Taylor Miller added 12 points and Maier 11.
DePauw shot 43.9 percent from the floor to the Falcons' 39.6 percent and the Tigers held a 46-20 edge on the boards and hauled down 19 on the offensive glass.
The Tigers return to action on Saturday, December 29, when they host the Amy Hasbrook Memorial Tournament.