Denison gave 14th-ranked DePauw all they could handle for 40 minutes in Wednesday night's North Coast Athletic Conference clash. However, Savannah Trees scored six-straight points over the final 2:21 to push the Tigers past the Big Red, 61-55, at Livingston Gymnasium in Granville.

Neither team led by more than seven points over the first 16 minutes of the first half. All that changed when an 11-2 run helped the Tigers turn a 21-20 lead into a 32-22 advantage. Still ahead by 10 inside the final minute of the half, junior Taylor Lindquist drained a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 34-27 at the two teams entered the locker room.

Denison needed just 3 minutes and 31 seconds in the second stanza to orchestrate a 7-2 burst that tied the game for the fifth time at 36-36. DePauw would respond over the next 7:24 with a 12-3 run that rebuilt the visiting team's nine-point advantage.

Facing a 48-39 deficit with just under nine minutes on the clock, Gabrielle Nottage knocked down a pair at the foul line that shrunk the margin to seven. After forcing a Savannah Trees turnover, senior Mary Margaret Habel found Nottage who buried a jumper to make it a two possession game. Following Hannah Douglas jumper, Lindquist found an open Habel who buried a three to close the game to 50-46.

Now trailing 55-48, the Big Red went on another 7-0 run that pulled them even with the nationally-ranked Tigers. Sophomore post Jordan Holmes got things rolling when she converted a pair at the charity stripe. On the Denison's next trip down the floor, freshman Akilah Fletcher knocked down a jumper in the paint to pull DU within three. On the ensuing possession, Emma Ondik's layup was rejected by Holmes. The blocked shot fell right to Fletcher who went flying down the court. The freshman kicked the ball to Kellie Arter, the reigning NCAC Player of the Week, who drilled a triple to tie the contest at 55-55 with 4:07 on the clock.

The score remained tied until the 2:21 mark when Trees drove to the left side of the hoop and laid the ball. Denison had a second chance on their ensuing possession after an offensive board, but a shot clock violation turned the ball over. Trees extended DePauw's lead with 1:23 to when she hit a circus shot in the lane. After a one-and-done by the Big Red, Trees put the final nail in the coffin when she hit a step-back jumper with 34 seconds left in the game.

Both squads hit 21 shots from the field, including six from behind the three-point arc. The shooting percentages were separated by one more shot from the field and four more attempts from 3-point range by the home team. The Tigers held the advantage at the free throw line going a perfect 13-for-13, while the Big Red hit 7-of-9 (78 percent) at the line. Denison finished with a 31-28 edge on the glass.

Arter paced the Big Red with 13 points and two steals to go along with three rebounds and two assists.  Habel chipped in 12 points on 5-of-7 from the field, which included a 2-for-2 performance from beyond the arc. Holmes grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, while Lindquist and Nottage each dished out three assists to complement seven and six points, respectively.

Ondik led all scorers with 15 points thanks in large part to three 3-pointers and a 4-for-4 performance at the foul line. Douglas and Lauren Abendroth both added 13 points, while Trees finished with 12 points. Douglas also dished out three assists and blocked two shots. Abby Keller led the Tigers with seven rebounds.

Denison falls to 7-7 overall and 3-2 in the NCAC, while DePauw improves to 12-1 and 5-0 in league play. The Big Red returns to action next Wednesday (Jan. 14) when they travel to Kenyon for a 6 p.m. tip-off.