The Big Red went 7-for-8 at the free throw line over the final 72 seconds to hold on for a 59-54 victory over Hiram in North Coast Athletic Conference action on Wednesday night in Granville.

The two squads struggled to find the bottom of the buckets in the first quarter of the game, combining for just 18 points through the first 12 minutes. Denison built its largest lead of the opening half at 23-16 behind a pair of free throws by Jordan Holmes.  The Terriers shrunk the deficit to three with 45 seconds to go, but a triple by Kellie Arter sent DU into the locker room with a 26-20 advantage.

The Big Red opened up its first double-digit lead in the early stages of the second half thanks to close range scores by Gabrielle Nottage and Mary Margaret Habel. Down by 10, Hiram went on two orchestrate a 10-0 run to tie the contest at 30-30. The Terrier burst was highlighted by a pair of Taylor Ratliff 3-pointers. Ratliff also added a pair of free throws, while Kayla Yost provided the game-time points at the charity stripe.

Denison answered Hiram's run with a 12-1 burst of their own that resulted in a 42-31 lead with 12:18 to go. However, the Big Red went ice cold for the next two minutes which allowed the Terriers to take their first lead since early in the contest at 43-42. With the score deadlocked at 47-47, Holmes and Arter combined for five-straight points to break the tie.

A triple by Dana Perrotta and free throw by Yost closed the deficit to 52-51 with 1:47 to play. Nottage and Arter rebuilt a two-possession lead with back-to-back 2-for-2 performances at the line, while senior Alyx Ingram went 3-for-4 over the final 17 seconds to lock up the 59-54 victory.

The Big Red finished 20-for-50 (40 percent) from the field and 16-for-27 (59 percent) at the foul line, while the Terriers went 19-for-65 (29 percent) from the floor. Denison tied the school record for blocks in a game with 13, while Hiram narrowly won the battle on the boards (43-41).

Holmes nearly recorded her third-career triple-double after logging 14 points, 15 rebounds and eight blocks in 38 minutes. Arter finished with 11 points, while Nottage chipped in 10 points, three assists and two steals.

Ratliff led all scorers with 16 points, while Yost logged a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds to go along with four assists.

Denison moves to 9-8 on the season and 5-3 in the NCAC, while Hiram falls to 4-13 and 0-8 in league play. The Big Red returns to the court on Saturday when they host conference rival Ohio Wesleyan. Tip-off from Livingston Gymnasium is slated for 1 p.m.