Fourth-ranked DePauw University captured its first-ever North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament title after defeating the defending tournament champion Denison Big Red, 61-41, on Saturday evening in Greencastle, Ind.

The Tigers improve to 26-1 and earned the NCAC's automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Championship Tournament.  Denison drops to 20-8 following the loss.

The Big Red got off to a hot start behind junior point guard Serafina Nuzzo.  Nuzzo opened the scoring with a 3-pointer.  On the ensuing possession, the junior knocked down a long jumper to give DU a five-point edge.

Despite a slow start, the Tigers engineered a 10-0 run that put DePauw ahead 15-10 with 9:33 to play in the first period.  Denison shrunk the deficit to two thanks to a triple from Nuzzo.  With less than eight to play in the frame, the junior point guard drained another jumper that made it a 21-18 contest.  However, the Tigers answered the Nuzzo bucket with a 7-0 run to close out the final 5:53 of the first half.

DePauw shot 46 percent in the opening 20 minutes, while the Big Red converted 32 percent from the field.  The Tigers held a 17-10 edge on the glass and scored 13 points off nine Denison turnovers, while the Big Red only generated three points off 10 Tiger giveaways.  Nuzzo led DU at the break with 10 of the team's 18 points.

In the second half, DePauw extended its consecutive scoring streak to 13 with a 6-0 run.  Trailing 38-22, sophomore Jane Windler and first-year Lydia Harlan each scored from close range to make it a 12-point game.  After a Tiger one-and-done on the ensuing possession, junior Kyli Parker drained a three from the wing to trim the deficit to 38-29 with 12:41 to play.

However, DePauw roared back with eight-straight points to rebuild a 17-point lead.  Rookie Mary Margaret Habel ended the Tiger run with a jumper at 9:24.  Following a pair of Ellie Pearson free throws, Kinsey Bryant-Lees knocked down a 3-pointer to make it a 48-34 contest.

With 7:44 to play, DePauw's Ali Ross drained a huge triple from the corner to extend the Tiger lead back to 16 points.  Bryant-Lees answered with her second-straight trifecta, but a 10-4 Tiger run over the final 5:07 secured the 20-point victory.

Nuzzo paced the Big Red with a team-best 12 points in 28 minutes of action.  Harlan added seven tallies and six rebounds, while Bryant-Lee chipped in six and junior Nicole Coggins had five.  Nuzzo and Coggins were both named to the All-Tournament team for Denison.  DePauw's Katie Aldrich was named the Tournament's Most Oustanding Player.