Greencastle, IN – The Oberlin College women's basketball team won its first-ever North Coast Athletic Conference Championship, defeating the Wittenberg University Tigers 71-39 on Saturday afternoon at the Neal Fieldhouse on the campus of DePauw University.
 
The Yeowomen, who own a school-record 21-7 record, earned the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. They will learn their opening-round opponent on Monday, February 26 at 2:30 p.m. during the NCAA.com live selection show.
 
Senior Abby Andrews, who posted 15 points and a career-high 17 in the championship game, earned Tournament MVP honors, while junior Olivia Canning was also named to the all-tournament team as she poured in 18 points to accompany her seven rebounds and six blocked shots.
 
Senior tri-captain Tyler Parlor added 14 points and nine rebounds, while sophomore Ally Driscoll chipped in with 12 points, five rebounds, and a game-high five assists.
 
The Yeowomen set the tone from the onset as they held the Tigers scoreless for nearly the entire first quarter as they led 16-2 after one period. A jumper from Parlor gave Oberlin a 13-0 advantage with 1:07 left in the frame, but the Tigers would finally get on the board with 26 seconds left to expire. However, Oberlin answered with a traditional 3-point play from Driscoll to close out the stanza.
 
The second quarter was much more closely contested as the Tigers settled in and slowly worked their way back into the game. A Kristie Kalis 3-pointer shrunk the Oberlin lead down to 23-12 at the 5:59 mark and Wittenberg would get within 10 at 27-17, but the Yeowomen would ultimately take a 32-19 lead into the intermission.
 
The second half started much like the first as the Yeowomen held the Tigers scoreless for over six minutes as they started the quarter with a 10-0 run to swell the lead out to 21 at 42-19. Oberlin would outscore the Tigers 22-9 in the period and took a 54-26 advantage into the final 10-minute frame.
 
With the historic outcome never in doubt in the fourth quarter, the Yeowomen were able to play out the quarter without any pressure as they closed out the 32-point victory.
 
The Yeowomen shot 43.6 percent (24-of-55) from the floor and were lights out at the free throw line where they cashed in 19-of-20 charity tosses.
 
One day after holding the Ladies of Kenyon to 22.6 percent shooting, the stifling Yeowomen defense did the same against the Tigers as they finished just 14-of-63 from the floor for a 22.2 percent clip.
 
The Yeowomen, who had nine blocks on the defense, won the rebounding war 50-31 and used their distinct size advantage to outscore the Tigers 34-18 in the paint.
 
The Tigers, who were led by 19 points from Kalis, finished the season 16-12.
 
Oberlin will now wait to learn its fate from the NCAA selection committee. Details will be posted on goyeo.com as soon as they become available.