Tigers Clinch Fourth NCAC Title in as Many Years with Overtime Win

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Greencastle, Ind. - Ninth-ranked DePauw scored eight straight points in overtime and captured its fourth North Coast Athletic Conference title in as many years with a 62-58 win over Wittenberg.

The host Tigers improved to 21-1 overall and 14-0 in the NCAC with their 18th straight win, while Wittenberg dropped to 17-6 overall and 9-4 in conference play.

DePauw's Hannah Douglas scored seven of her DePauw career-high 28 points in the extra session and her three-point play with 2:21 left in overtime gave the hosts a 57-56 lead.

Abby Keller knocked in two free throws before Douglas hit a jumper and Savannah Trees connected on one free throw to push the lead to 62-56 with 14 seconds left. Wittenberg connected on just 2-of-7 overtime field goals, while DePauw wsa 3-of-4.

Wittenberg jumped out to an early 15-8 lead with 14:30 left in the opening half as it hit six of its first seven field goal tries including three three-pointers. 

DePauw went on a 16-0 run as six different players scored and the Tigers took a 24-15 lead on the way to a 30-21 halftime advantage.

The hosts stretched the margin to as much as 10 early in the second half, but Wittenberg scored eight straight to cut the lead to 35-33 with 12:33 left in regulation.

DePauw scored seven straight to push the lead back to nine. Wittenberg started chipping away and tied the contest at 48-48 on Katelyn Haralamos' three-pointer with 2:59 left. The guests took a 52-50 advantage on Riley McDonald's layup with 1:24 left before Tree countered with a drive at the 1:01 mark following a DePauw timeout.

Wittenberg couldn't convert on three field goal tries on its next possession and DePauw rebounded. Trees drove the lane and got off a shot near the end of the shot clock that bounced off the rim. Darbie Zarkle's heave from beyond the arc with a couples of seconds remaining was off the mark.

Douglas' 28 was just three shy of her collegiate high of 31 when she played at Division I Butler. She connected on 12-of-18 from the field including her first seven and also led the Tigers with three blocks and two steals. Emma Ondik followed with 11 with a team-high three assists and Trees scored 10. Keller snagged 10 rebounds in the win.

Katelyn Haralamos led Wittenberg with 21 followed by Zirkle and Bobbie Clayton with 10 apiece. Michelle Brunswick grabbed nine rebounds, while Heather Schroeder had three assists.

DePauw shot 42.9 percent from the floor after connecting on 50 percent in the first half. Wittenberg shot 36.7 percent for the contest and both teams were 4-of-14 from three-point range.

Wittenberg held a 36-31 edge on the boards, but the difference in the came was Wittenberg's 24 turnovers to DePauw's 17 which led to a 27-13 advantage for the hosts in points off turnovers.

Tonight's win was DePauw's 65th consecutive regular season home victory and its 94th straight home conference win. The overtime game was the first for the DePauw women on the Neal Fieldhouse hardwood since January 30, 2000.

DePauw travels to Kenyon on Saturday, February 14, for a 1 p.m. contest.