Juniors Shaina Kaiser (Ostrander, Ohio/Buckeye Valley) and Haley Dahlgard (Walnut Creek, Calif./Northgate) each scored 21 points as the Denison women's basketball team defeated Muskingum University 73-57 in the championship game of the Anderson University Tip Off Tournament.  The win was the Big Red's second in a row and their first over the Muskies since the 2004-05 season.

The two teams were involved in a tight game through the opening 10 minutes of action.  Down 9-8, Kaiser made one of two free throws to tie the game at the 12:32 mark.  Sophomore Annie-Rae Dura (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville Central) hit a jumper in the paint to give DU an 11-9 advantage, a lead the Big Red held for the rest of the half.  After Muskingum's Traci Alt cut the deficit to 27-22 with four seconds left in the opening half, first-year point guard Serafina Nuzzo (Western Springs, Ill./Fenwick) found Dahlgard for a three-pointer as time expired.  Dahlgard scored 14 points on 6-of-9 from the field in the first stanza.

After shooting 36 percent in the opening frame, DU converted on 17-of-32 (53.1 percent) shots from the floor in the second half.  The Big Red held a double-digit lead for the majority of the second period, including an 18 point advantage (73-55) with 1:08 left in the game.  The Muskies were able to trim the margin to five (39-34) with 15:03 on the clock, but Denison continued to push the pace and quickly expanded their lead back to double figures.

In addition to their 21-point performances, Kaiser grabbed seven rebounds, blocked three shots and handed out three assists, while Dahlgard pulled down four boards and had one block.  Sophomore post Christina Myers (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) chipped in 11 tallies and a team-high nine rebounds, while Nuzzo finished with six points and a game-high seven assists.

Muskingum was led by Hannah Nelson who recorded a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Suzanne Nichols netted a team-high 15 tallies.

The Big Red shot 45 percent (29-of-65) from the field, while the Muskies were 21-of-53 (39.6 percent) from the floor.  Denison also held a 42-37 edge on the glass.

Following the championship game, Kaiser and Dahlgard were named to the AU Tip-Off All-Tournament Team.

DU improves to 2-1 on the year, while Muskingum falls to 1-1 overall.  The Big Red return to action on Saturday (Nov. 28) when they travel to Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pa.  Tip-off is slated for 1:00 p.m.