CLEVELAND, Ohio--  It took three overtime periods, but Case Western Reserve University outlasted Denison, 79-72 on Saturday afternoon at Horsburgh Gym.  In what was the first triple-overtime game in Big Red women's basketball history, the Spartans heated up in the third OT, scoring the first nine points of the period to pull away for the win. 

It was a tough shooting day for Denison and a single-game record 71 rebounds (33 offensive) couldn't bail them out in the end.  Denison took a 47-34 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Spartans got cooking, outscoring DU 18-5 in the final period to force overtime. 

With 36 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Shonta Lockett tied the game at 52-52.  Kenyon missed their potential game-winner with four seconds and after consecutive turnovers, as both teams attempted to inbound the basketball, the game went into overtime.

DU trailed 56-54 with 19 seconds left. After Lily Morris' 3-point try was off the mark, Lockett came down with the rebound, fed Morris who connected with Lauren Longbrake down low with three seconds left, tying the game at 56-56.  Longbrake was fouled on the play and missed the free throw, but Alison Schafer was there for the offensive rebound but her shot at the buzzer was no good.

In the second overtime, Addie Buzas connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to put Denison on top by four with 2:37 remaining.  Two misses from long range and two turnovers allowed the Spartans to tie the game at 62-62.  With five seconds left in the second OT, Morris stole the ball but Aliyah Hunter's desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer drew iron but was no good.

In the third OT, Case Western Reserve opened on a 9-0 run to put the game away.

Denison shot 27 percent for the game while the Spartans connected on 34 percent of its attempts.  Schafer led DU with 15 points in 47 minutes. She also added nine rebounds and four assists.  Longbrake scored 12 points and led the team with 10 rebounds.  Buzas scored 10 points and finished with nine boards while Morris added 12 points on four 3-pointers. 

Melissa Heath scored 23 points and finished with 11 rebounds.  Isabella Mills added 20 points and a game-high 16 rebounds.

Denison drops to 7-2 and will look to bounce back on Wednesday (Dec. 11) when they host Kenyon at 7 p.m.