The Tigers advance to an overall record of 14-6 after defeating the Oberlin Yeowomen 69-40 last Saturday in conference play.
The Tigers dominated the first half of play. After hitting 71.4 percent from the floor in the first quarter, they moved into the second quarter with a lead of 23-13.
Their success did not stop there. The ladies opened up the second half leading the Yeowomen, who currently hold a 10-11 record, by 21 points.
Oberlin fought back briefly in the third quarter. The Yeowomen cut the lead to 17 after a 7-0 run. However, DePauw stubbornly maintained its lead, keeping Oberlin from scoring from the field for the last six minutes of play.
Heading into the locker room after a 29-point win, the ladies were proud of their performance.
“We played well and our defense was the one thing that was able to help us in that game to give us the win,” said junior guard Claire Ryan.
Ryan secured a career high of 17 points in Saturday’s game, as well as four steals.
Other strong Tiger performances came from sophomore Emily Budde, who scored 13 points, and senior Abby Keller, who caught seven rebounds.
DePauw’s defensive play has been strong this season. This match up marked the 11th time this season that the team kept its opponent from scoring under 50 points.
“We work hard on defense everyday,” Budde said. “It’s Coach Huffman's biggest thing. If you aren't playing good defense you're not going to stop anyone.”
Ryan agreed, adding that the team’s offensive performance is crucial as the season winds down.
“We have to continue to focus on our defense and offensive execution to be able to make a run at the end of the season.”
The Tigers now boast a record of 8-3 in the North Coast Atlantic Conference. This win places them at No. 2, just behind Denison University. The Big Red defeated the Tigers in their two most recent match ups.
The Tigers resume play against Allegheny College tonight. The Gators are currently No. 4 in the NCAC, and have a record of 10-9, providing a tough match up for the Tigers.
“It could be a very close game. We respect them very much. We're going to have to play lock-down defense and be very composed on offense to withstand their hectic defense,” Budde said.
Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. in Neal Fieldhouse.