Case Western Reserve survived a late Denison rally in the final game of the UAA/NCAC Challenge at Horsburgh Gymnasium in Cleveland, Ohio.  The Spartans edged the Big Red 56-53.

In a tightly contested first half, Case Western Reserve used an 8-0 half-ending run to take 23-17 lead into the break.  Despite falling behind by eight points on multiple occasions, Denison was never really out of the contest.  Trailing 55-48 with less than two minutes to go, Nicole Coggins drained a three-pointer off an assist from Kyli Parker to trim the deficit to four.  DU later shrunk the gap to 56-53 with a Parker layup, but failed to convert the game-tying shot over the final 19 seconds of play.

Denison shot the long ball well making 8-of-16 from behind the arc.  However, the Big Red only converted a 38 percent clip from the field.  CWRU hit 39 percent from the floor and scored 40 of their 56 tallies in the paint.  Denison held a 41-35 edge on the glass, but committed 15 turnovers compared to four giveaways by the Spartans.

Rookie Alyx Ingram paced Denison with 10 points, while Coggins, Parker and Paige Robnett each chipped in eight tallies.  Parker also had four boards, and three assists, while Robnett pulled down six rebounds.  Gretchen Staubach paced DU down low with a game-high nine rebounds.

Erin Hollinger led all scorers with 19 points, while Chelsea Peck chipped in 15 tallies.  Marissa Miles grabbed eight boards, while Hollinger and Berit Eppard each recorded six rebounds.

The Big Red falls to 4-2, while Case Western Reserve improves to 3-3.  Denison returns to action on Saturday (Dec. 3) when they travel to North Coast Athletic Conference newcomer DePauw University.  Tip-off from Greencastle, Ind. is slated for 1 p.m.