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Box Score 2 GREENCASTLE, Ind.—Seventh-ranked DePauw University clinched the 2017-18 North Coast Athletic Conference championship on Wednesday evening after a 75-43 win over Denison University.
The Tigers went on an 18-0 run in the first quarter to pull out to a 25-5 lead on the Big Red. DU did score the final five points of the opening period on two free throws by Lauren Hofer and a 3-pointer by Brittany Atkinson.
The deficit hovered around 15 points until back-to-back jumpers by Maya Howard and Emily Budde gave the Tigers a 22-point lead with 2:33 to play in the first half. DePauw went into the locker room with a 41-22 lead.
In the second half, Denison shot 26 percent from the field while DePauw connected on 52 percent of its shots. The Tigers outscored the Big Red 18-9 in the fourth quarter to lock up their 18th straight win.
Denison was led in scoring by Atkinson who finished with 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting in 20 minutes. Hofer led DU with five rebounds and Lucy Bancone chipped in five points.
Budde led DePauw with 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Claire Keefe and Howard tallied 12 points apiece.
Denison drops to 10-13 and 5-9 in the NCAC while DePauw improves to 22-1 and 14-0 in conference play. On Saturday, Feb. 10 the Big Red will host Allegheny College at 1 p.m.