DELAWARE, OH -- No. 2 seeded DePauw (20-6) captured its second-consecutive and ninth overall NCAC Women's Basketball Tournament title after defeating No. 5 seeded Wittenberg (18-10), 46-44, on Saturday afternoon at Ohio Wesleyan University's Branch Rickey Arena in Delaware, Ohio.
As tournament champions, the DePauw Tigers have earned the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament and will find out who and where they will play on Monday, March 3, at 2:30 p.m. during the NCAA selection show. The NCAA tournament will open with first and second round games next weekend on campus sites.
#2 DEPAUW (20-6) 46, #5 WITTENBERG (18-10) 44
- The first quarter was a battle, as Wittenberg held a 13-12 advantage over DePauw in the first 10 minutes of action before the Indiana Tigers would outscore the Ohio Tigers 6-2 in the second frame for an 18-15 edge at the half.
- DePauw extended its lead with a 17-point third quarter, while holding Wittenberg to 11 points for a 35-26 advantage with 10 minutes remaining.
- The final quarter was a back-and-forth battle, with the Tigers trading leads. Down by four with 6:17 remaining, Wittenberg senior forward Riane Burton (Houston, TX/ Cypress Ranch) made a bucket and drew a foul for the three-point play to bring the team's deficit to one, 40-39. DePauw senior guard Ava Hassel (Portsmouth, OH/Notre Dame) made a layup at 4:10 for a three-point cushion before Wittenberg senior guard Jazmyn Gaines-Burns (Bladensburg, MD/Elizabeth Seton) tied the game with a clutch three-pointer. Junior wing Karsen Karlblom (Crystal Lake, IL/Prairie Ridge) followed with a jumper to put Wittenberg ahead 44-42. Hassel responded with a three at 1:42 for the 45-44 edge, while key rebounds and defensive plays in the final moments helped seal the victory for the Indiana Tigers, Hart also added a crucial free throw to extend DePauw's lead in the eventual two-point victory.
- DePauw sophomore forward Olivia Hart (Murfreesboro, TN/Central Magnet) led DePauw with 11 points and a game-high 18 rebounds, to go along with two assists and one block. For her efforts, Hart was selected as the Tournament MVP and received the Nan Nichols Award. Hassel followed Hart with 10 points, five rebounds and two steals for the Indiana Tigers and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
- Karlblom joined Hassel on the All-Tournament Team after leading Wittenberg with 11 points, while adding five rebounds and two blocks. Burton and senior guard Kelsey Ragan (Whitehouse, OH/Anthony Wayne) contributed nine points apiece, with Burton adding a team-high seven rebounds and also earning an All-Tournament selection.
- As a team, DePauw connected on 17-of-68 field goal attempts, made eight three's and went 4-for-8 at the line, while Wittenberg went 16-of-54, made 5-of-7 free throws and connected on seven three-balls.
- DePauw outrebounded Wittenberg 61-29 and held a 16-10 edge in points in the paint, while Wittenberg capitalized with 19 points off turnovers.
2025 NCAC Women's Basketball All-Tournament Team
Isabella Caceres, Hiram
Macy Miller, Ohio Wesleyan
Riane Burton, Wittenberg
Karsen Karlblom, Wittenberg
Ava Hassel, DePauw
Tournament MVP (Nan Nichols Award) – Olivia Hart, DePauw