The Lady Tigers improve to 22-1 overall and 15-0 in the NCAC after a 62-45 win against Wittenberg Wednesday evening. Wittenberg fell to 12-11 overall and 8-7 in conference play. The fourth-ranked Tigers also continued their high scoring rampage and an impressive win streak, which now sits at 21.
While the Tigers have spent most of the season fighting for leads in the first half, Wednesday's game saw the Tigers led by 12 as the game headed into halftime.
Wittenberg entered the second half with some tough play that trimmed the lead to nine. Sophomore Ali Ross, senior Katie Aldrich and sophomore Alex Gasaway then knocked the lead back to double digits. After that, DePauw controlled the pace and tempo of the game as Wittenberg struggled to find offensive opportunities.
A few DePauw runs led by senior Kathryn Denbow squashed any hope for a Wittenberg victory as DePauw continued their unbeaten streak.
Ross and Gasaway led the team in points with 13 each. Aldrich notched impressive double-digits with 12 points and a career high 13 rebounds.
Gasaway blocked three shots to lead the team while junior Ellie Pearson and Denbow dished out three assists each. Pearson played a huge role in DePauw's rebounding game, coming up with nine points.
As the regular season winds down and more attention diverts to the upcoming NCAC and NCAA tournaments, many teams lose focus and experience a few bad losses right at the end.
However, according to Denbow, rankings are not very important to the squad.
"[We] don't really pay attention to rankings because unlike Div. I, your rank during season doesn't really determine your standing in the national tournament." Denbow continued explaining that the true top team is decided in the national championship game.
"It is just a number and the last weekend in March will determine who is actually number one," Denbow said. "I think we are always trying to get better. We know we have not reached our full potential and know that reaching our full potential is what it takes to be the best. We like where we are, and we've been playing well in our conference, but tournament time is when people play their hearts out, just play insanely, and we have to be ready for everyone's best game. Everyday we challenge each other to get us prepared for the more athletic, stronger teams we will see in the national tournament."
The Lady Tigers hope to continue their winning streak in their final regular season game this Saturday at College of Wooster.