LEXINGTON, VA -- Denison (28-2) collected a 77-64 win over Washington and Lee (31-1) in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament on Saturday.
With the program’s first-ever quarterfinal win and after handing the Generals their first loss of the season, the Big Red advance into the semifinal round. Denison will face the winner of tonight’s quarterfinal matchup between Wis.-Oshkosh (27-3) and UChicago (20-7). The national semifinals are scheduled to be played on Thursday, March 19, in the Cregger Center in Salem, Virginia at a time to be determined. The NCAA Division III title game is set for Saturday, March 21, at 4:00 p.m.
DENISON (28-2) 77, WASHINGTON AND LEE (31-1) 64
- Denison delivered a statement win on Saturday night, defeating previously unbeaten and third-ranked Washington and Lee, 77-64, in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament.
- The Big Red set the tone early by holding the Generals to 4-of-21 shooting in the opening quarter and building a 24-16 lead after 10 minutes. Junior guard Ada Taute (Chicago, IL/St. Ignatius College Prep) scored Denison’s first points of the night and continued to attack the basket, while senior guard Brooke Toigo (Ada, MI/Forest Hills Eastern) provided an early lift with a first-quarter three-pointer during Denison’s opening run.
- The second quarter was a defensive battle, but Denison maintained control by winning possessions and getting to the free-throw line. Washington and Lee struggled to find a rhythm from deep, allowing Denison to build a 38-28 lead heading into halftime. First-year guard Molly Dorighi (Englewood, CO/Cherry Creek) made a strong impact during the stretch, contributing timely scoring while creating defensive pressure with several key steals to help the Big Red maintain momentum.
- Washington and Lee made its strongest push in the third quarter, outscoring Denison 22-12 and briefly taking the lead late in the period. The Generals moved in front 50-48 with 15 seconds remaining, but the Big Red answered immediately as junior guard Abby Cooch (Clifton, VA/Bishop Ireton) tied the game with a driving layup with two seconds left in the quarter to make it 50-50 heading into the final 10 minutes.
- Denison responded in the fourth quarter with its most efficient stretch of the game. Taute knocked down a key three-pointer early in the period, Dorighi followed with a three ball of her own, and the Big Red continued to generate stops, highlighted by multiple rim protections from sophomore post Anelly Mad-toingué (Wellesley, MA/Dana Hall). Denison outscored the Generals 27-14 in the final period, extending the margin to as many as 15, and closed the game out at the free-throw line to secure the 77-64 victory.
- Taute led Denison with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 mark from three-point range. Dorighi added 19 points and delivered repeatedly at the free-throw line, going 14-for-16 at the stripe to help Denison maintain separation in the fourth quarter. She also added three defensive rebounds, two steals, one assist, and one block. Cooch finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists while adding the game-tying layup at the end of the third to keep the Big Red even heading into the final period. Toigo scored 10 points with a pair of three-pointers, and Mad-toingué anchored the interior with 15 rebounds and six blocks as Denison controlled the paint and closed out the win.
- Denison improves to 6-7 (.461) on the national stage and will advance to the NCAA Division III Semifinal Round for the first time in program history.