The Denison Big Red suffered a 57-53 setback at the hands on Case Western Reserve University on Saturday in Cleveland, Ohio.  A Gabrielle Nottage 3-pointer with seven seconds remaining got DU to within two points, but the Spartans finished the game off with a pair of free throws to seal up the four-point victory.

It was a back-and-forth game for much of the first 10 minutes of the second half.  A Nottage jumper with 7:44 to play gave Denison a 43-42 lead.  That would be the last lead for the Big Red as CWRU snapped off a 7-0 run to go up six with four minutes to play.

With 2:46 to play, Jordan Holmes scored down low, trimming the Case lead to 51-50.  The Spartans' Laura Mummey would score at the other end, opening up a three point lead.

DU came back with a 3-point try by Kellie Arter.  It was off the mark, but Mary Margaret Habel was able to grab the offensive rebound.  After a foul by Case, Denison inbounded and kicked to Taylor Lindquist for a 3-pointer that was no good.  Mummey came down with the rebound for CWRU with 31 seconds left and Denison was forced to foul.  Over the final 13 seconds the Spartans went 4-for-4 from the line to put the game on ice.

Habel led DU with 12 points while going 5-of-8 from the field.  Holmes scored 11 points and added 11 rebounds and five blocked shots.  Lindquist chipped in nine points for the Big Red.

Case Western Reseve was led by Brook Orcutt's 12 points.  Mummey added 11 points and Berit Eppard led with 10 rebounds.

The Big Red shot 42 percent from the field, but were 4-of-20 from 3-point range.  DU held a 39-27 advantage on the glass.  Case shot 38 percent (23-of-61) and were 6-of-13 from long range.

Case Western Reserve improves to 5-2 while Denison drops to 3-5.  The Big Red returns to action on Tuesday (Dec. 9) at Ohio Wesleyan.