OSHKOSH, WI/DELAWARE, OH – Ohio Wesleyan (24-3) secured a victory, while DePauw (20-7) fell in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament on Friday night. The Battling Bishops defeated Immaculata (22-4) 87-42, while Bethel (23-5) edged out the Tigers 71-65.
In the second round on Saturday, OWU will take on Washington & Jefferson (24-4) at 6:30 p.m. in Delaware, Ohio.
BETHEL (23-5) 71, DEPAUW (20-7) 65
- In a game that saw seven lead changes and three ties, DePauw battled until the final buzzer but came up short in a 71-65 loss to Bethel in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament.
- The Tigers were off to a solid start, trading baskets with the Royals in a back-and-forth opening period. Senior guard Ava Hassel (Portsmouth, OH/Notre Dame) and junior guard Riley Mont (Aurora, IL/West Aurora) led the Tigers’ offense, knocking down key shots to keep pace.
- Bethel began to build momentum in the second quarter, extending its lead behind strong shooting and second-chance opportunities. DePauw responded with aggressive play in the paint, as sophomore forward Olivia Hart (Murfreesboro, TN/Central Magnet) and senior guard Moira McGinley (Indianapolis, IN/Bishop Chatard) provided key contributions. Hassel drained a late three-pointer, helping the Tigers stay within reach heading into halftime.
- After the break, Mont continued to attack the basket, and senior forward Lyla Barr (Lebanon, IN/Lebanon) controlled the boards to give DePauw extra possessions. The Tigers cut into the Royal’s lead, staying within striking distance heading into the fourth quarter.
- DePauw battled down the stretch, closing the gap multiple times as Hassel and Mont made key plays. With under two minutes remaining, Hassel buried a crucial three-pointer to bring the Tigers within one at 62-61. However, Bethel responded with a layup from Elly Schmitz and a three-pointer from Anna Garfield to push the lead back to six. The Tigers made a late push, but the Royals capitalized on free throws in the final seconds to seal the six-point victory.
- Hassle led all scorers with 24 points, while adding four rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Mont followed with 22 points, contributing four steals, two assists, and five rebounds.
- Garfield led the Royals with 17 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal in Bethel's victory.
- DePauw controlled the glass, out rebounding the Royals 37-25, including a dominant 17-5 advantage in offensive boards. Both teams recorded 20 defensive rebounds, but DePauw's fastbreak game made an impact, scoring 15 points compared to Bethel's 14. The Tigers played tough defense, finishing with eight steals, just one shy of Bethel's nine, and gained an 18-14 advantage in points off turnovers.
- The Tigers own a 35-22 (.614) record on the national stage.
OHIO WESLEYAN (24-3) 87, IMMACULATA (22-4) 42
- Ohio Wesleyan dominated in a decisive 87-42 victory over Immaculata in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament. The game saw a strong start from the Battling Bishops, with an early three-pointer from fifth-year point guard Elizabeth Homan (Cincinnati, OH/Anderson), quickly setting the tone for the rest of the match. Their offense was firing on all cylinders, with fifth-year guard Kasey Schipfer (Mechanicsburg, OH/Mechanicsburg) leading the charge, scoring multiple layups and free throws, while fifth-year guard Lauren Denison (Pataskala, OH/Watkins Memorial) and Homan each contributed from beyond the arc.
- OWU continued to apply the pressure defensively, forcing mistakes and capitalizing on each opportunity. Despite efforts from Immaculata’s Reese Mullins and Carly Boyer, who fought to keep the Mighty Macs afloat with free throws and rebounds, they struggled to hold off Ohio Wesleyan’s offensive outbursts.
- As the game wore on, a trio of guards came off the bench to make contributions, including junior Mia Guscoff (Canton, OH/Massillon Perry), sophomore Carly Lehman (Milford Center, OH/Fairbanks), and senior Lauren Gerber (Worthington, OH/Thomas Worthington). By the time the final buzzer sounded, Ohio Wesleyan had secured a commanding 45-point win, showcasing their offensive and defensive abilities in what was a comprehensive team victory.
- The Battling Bishops were led by Denison, who recorded 19 points, shooting 7-for-12 from the floor and 5-for-9 from range, and tallied six rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in the win. Homan followed closely, registering 18 points, shooting 5-for-8 from the floor, 5-for-7 from deep, and a perfect 3-for-3 from the line, while recording six rebounds, four assists, and one steal. Sophomore post Macy Miller (Marysville, OH/Fairbanks) earned the game’s only double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Schipfer was OWU’s final double-digit scorer with 13 points.
- Ohio Wesleyan now owns a 9-8 (.529) record in the NCAA tourney.