The women's basketball team ended its last contest in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play on a winning note Sunday, defeating Hendrix College 80-71 in the championship game of the conference tournament.
The Tigers (25-3) captured the SCAC title for the second consecutive year and automatically advance to the NCAA Div. III Championship for the eighth-straight season. The conference title was DePauw's sixth since the tournament began in 2003, and its 10th overall during its 13 years in the SCAC.
Hendrix led through much of the first half, until the Tigers answered with 12 points to take a 35-29 lead at the break. DePauw stretched the margin to double digits in the second half, and closed out the game with an 80-71 victory.
Senior Katie Mathews paced the Tigers with 14 points and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Mathews also became the 12th player in DePauw women's basketball history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark with her basket at 1:13 in the first half.
Sophomore Kate Walker recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while senior Lauren Goff added 10 points. DePauw shot 46.9 percent from the floor in the victory and was 14-of-17 from the free throw line.
The Tigers also had the edge on the boards, 45-32. Christina Byler led Hendrix with 25 points, and Jamie Tate notched a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
DePauw will find out the location of the NCAA Tournament first-round action during the NCAA Selection Show, which airs Monday at 3 p.m.
