Box Score GREENCASTLE, Ind.—Denison trailed No. 3 DePauw by just five points entering the fourth quarter, but the Tigers closed out the 2020 North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament Championship on a 13-0 run to capture the league title, 66-47, from Neal Fieldhouse.
Denison, who was playing in its second-straight conference tournament championship and 13th conference title game in program history, gave DePauw all they could handle for the first 30 minutes of action.
The Big Red trailed 46-36 with 2:18 left in the third but two baskets by Shonta Lockett and one by Lauren Hofer gave DU a fighting chance entering the fourth quarter trailing 48-42.
It was a six-point game with 5:35 left after Lockett split a pair of free throws but the tide turned in favor of the home team when Sydney Kopp was fouled on a 3-point try. The NCAC's Player of the Year sank all three free throws to give her team a 58-47 lead with 4:44 left. That sparked the 13-0 run to end the game.
Kopp finished with a game-high 28 points and 17 rebounds in 35 minutes. She was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Claire Keefe followed with 19 points and 10 rebounds while Hayley Cange chipped in 11 points and 12 rebounds.
DePauw held a decisive 49-28 advantage on the glass and shot 47 percent from the field but the Tigers did struggle from long range, going 1-of-16 from beyond the arc.
Denison was led in scoring by senior Alison Schafer who closed out an outstanding career with 1,111 career points ranking her 10th on the program's all-time scoring list. Shafer also ranks third in career 3-pointers made with 199.
Lockett added seven points and three rebounds while Lauren Longbrake led DU on the glass with seven.
Denison's 10-member senior class leaves with 63 victories and three appearances in the conference tournament championship game.
The Big Red's season ends with a record of 19-9 while DePauw (27-1) receives the conference automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Denison's 19 wins are the most since 2015 and is tied for the eighth-most wins in school history.