Denison outscored Muskingum 14-3 over the final 2:44 en route to a 71-63 victory over the Muskies in the opening round of the McDonalds of Bluffton Holiday Tournament.  With the victory, the Big Red will take on Albion College in Monday's championship game at 5 p.m.

DU took a seven point lead into the locker room but after four consecutive 3-pointers by the Muskies early in the second half that lead would evaporate.  With four minutes to play, a pair of free throws by Muskingum's Shelbi VanMeter put her team up 58-57.  One minute later, a Jasmine Goings layup lifted her team to a three point advantage.

Denison would answer as first-year Akilah Fletcher knocked down a jumper off a pass from Alyssa Wagner.  Jordan Holmes would follow with consecutive buckets that would tie the game with just over one minute to play.

After a Muskingum miss, junior Kellie Arter gave Denison the lead with 50 seconds to play.  At the other end, Goings missed the potential game-tying layup and Holmes pulled down the rebound.  She was quickly fouled.  Holmes connected on both free throws to put DU up four with 23 seconds to play.  Muskingum's Taylor Maurer missed a 3-pointer and Wagner was there for the rebound.  After Wagner's pair of free throws, Denison led by six and the comeback was complete.

Three Big Red players scored in double figures, led by Mary Margaret Habel's 17 points and four rebounds.  Holmes scored 15 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.  Arter chipped in 13 points and led the team with five assists to go along with four rebounds.

Denison shot 46 percent from the field and were 14-of-18 from the charity stripe. 

Goings paced the Muskies with 17 points and six rebounds.  Taylor added 12 points and Angela Darnley added a career-high 13 assists.

Muskingum drops to 3-8 while the Big Red improves to 5-6.  Albion defeated the host, Bluffton, 80-73 to advance to Monday's championship game against Denison at 5 p.m.