CLEVELAND, OH – Despite having two players score over 20 points, the Case Western Reserve University women's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker, 72-69, to unbeaten Denison University on Saturday, December 4 at Horsburgh Gymnasium.

The Spartans have now dropped three straight after opening the season at 3-0 and will return to action this Monday, December 6 at Oberlin College at 7:00 p.m. Denison improved to 7-0.

Sophomore guard Evy Iacono (Cincinnati, OH/Mount Notre Dame) led the Spartans with a game-high 22 points, five rebounds and five assists. Junior forward Erin Hollinger (Chardon, OH/Chardon) also reached the 20-point plateau for the second time this season with 21 to go along with six rebounds and four assists.

Denison had four players in double-figures, including Serafina Nuzzo, who totaled 18 points, eight assists and six boards.

DU scored the game's first six points and opened on an 11-2 run ending in a layup by Lucy Follansbee at 15:30. The Spartans answered with a 13-3 run during the next 4:26 and grabbed the lead, at 15-14, when Iacono - pictured - scored a layup at 11:04. The lead changed hands on each of the next two possessions before the Big Red broke an 18-18 tie with a 7-2 run, culminating in a three-pointer by Nicole Coggins at the 8:02 mark. The Denison lead grew to a game-high of 12, at 37-25, when Shaina Kaiser converted a four-point play with 3:19 left in the period. The Spartans were able to chip three off of the deficit and went into the half trailing 39-30.

The Spartans came out of the gate strong in the second half with a 14-4 run and led 44-43 when junior forward Chelsea Peck (Mount Lebanon, PA/Oakland Catholic) hit a layup at 14:18. The Case lead grew to a high of nine, at 56-47, following a three-pointer from sophomore point guard Erica Iafelica (North Canton, OH/Canton Hoover) with 10:44 left to play.

The Big Red rallied with a 14-5 run and tied the score at 61 apiece when Nuzzo layed a basket in at 4:39. The Spartans then moved back ahead on three separate occasions, each followed by a Denison bucket that tied the game. Case's final lead came at 69-67 when sophomore center Emily Mueller (Pittsburgh, PA/Upper St. Clair) nailed a short jumper with 44 seconds remaining. Denison responded on the ensuing possession with a three-pointer by Haley Dahlgard that made the score 70-69 with 00:18 left on the clock.

Case was unable to score on its next trip down the floor and Denison's Nicole Coggins hit two free throws with four seconds left to clinch the 72-69 victory.

The Spartans outshot Denison, 50.9 percent to 45.6%, but were outrebounded, 37-24. The Big Red also hit 12 free throws to only four for Case.