Wittenberg rallied from a 9-point deficit and closed out the game on a 16-6 run to hand Denison its first defeat in seven contests, 59-57, from Pam Evans Smith Arena in Springfield, Ohio.

The two teams played the first half to a 28-28 tie and midway through the second half the Big Red went on a 7-0 run powered by five points from Jane Windler.

The Wittenberg comeback would kick into high gear with six minutes to play when Enri Small scored on a put-back to trim the lead to six at 51-45.  On the day, DU would commit 16 turnovers but six of those miscues would come over the final six minutes of the game.  Those turnovers played a large role in the Wittenberg comeback.

After Small's basket, two DU turnovers would lead to a layup by Kim Replogle with 4:49 to play.  Fast forward to the 2:21 mark and Wittenberg's Lindsay Clark knocked down the biggest shot of the game, connecting on her second 3-pointer of the game.

The Big Red, now trailing by three with under a minute to play, got a big offensive rebound from Annie-Rae Dura and the senior converted the put-back to cut the Tiger lead to 56-55 with 45 seconds left.

Denison would send Wittenberg to the line and Katelyn Haralamos would split the pair, giving DU a chance to either tie the game or take the lead.  Junior guard Serafina Nuzzo calmly converted a baseline jumper at the other end, tying the game at 57-57 with 19 seconds left.

Just before crossing midcourt Dura was whistled for a foul on Amber Lara and she went to the line and knocked down both, giving her team a two-point lead. 

After the free throws DU went back to Nuzzo and with under five seconds to play she took a jumper from just to the right of the free throw line that was on target but hit the front of the rim.  The Tigers gathered the rebound and before Denison could foul, the final horn sounded.

Nuzzo led all scorers with 17 points while going 7-of-14 from the field.  Kyli Parker chipped in nine points off the bench while Gretchen Staubach added seven.  Windler paced the Big Red with seven rebounds.

Sarah Watson led the home team with 14 points and eight rebounds.  DU shot 42 percent from the field but was just 57 percent from the free throw line (8-of-14).  The Tigers on the other had were 17-for-20 from the charity stripe while connecting on 40 percent of its field goals.

The loss drops Denison's record to 11-4 and 4-2 in the North Coast Athletic Conference.  Wittenberg improves to 7-6 and 3-2 in the NCAC.  The Big Red will return to action on Wednesday (Jan. 18) against No. 7 DePauw.