WOOSTER, Ohio – Thanks to a 21-4 scoring run to open the game, Denison women's basketball earned their first win of the 2021 season as they coasted to a 77-58 victory over Wooster on Friday night at Timken Gymnasium in Wooster, Ohio.

Highlighted by an 18-4 start in the first quarter and 12 players entering the scoring column for DU, the Big Red took control in the opening minutes as a pair of threes from senior Zyah Beal and sophomore Gabby Elliott put Denison in front early with a 10-2 lead less than four minutes into the contest. With two minutes remaining in the first, a layup from Ann Rafeedie jump started an 8-2 finish to the frame for the Big Red as Mikaila Carpenter, Hannah Wynn, and Ava Warcaba all connected at the rim to put Denison ahead by 14, 18-4, entering the second quarter.

Building their lead to as many as 24 in the second, the Big Red leaned on their balanced attack entering the half with six different players contributing to DU's lead. Natalie Hutras led Denison's second-quarter efforts with six points while Beal and Warcaba tallied five points each as the Big Red shot 45.5 percent from the field and entered the break with a 41-21 advantage.

Entering the fourth quarter with a 59-41 lead, the Big Red closed out the final 10 minutes shooting 50 percent from the floor on 8-of-16 shooting, including a 3-for-3 effort from Elliott. With 3:12 left in the game, a three-pointer from Wooster's Alyssa Chritz trimmed DU's lead to 15, 71-56, but Denison tamed the Scots' comeback attempt with a 6-2 scoring run in the final three minutes to earn their first win of the season. Wooster dropped to 0-1 following their first contest in 2021.

Shooting 45.3 percent for the game, Denison paced their balanced offense with 24 assists, 20 points off turnovers, and 38 points in the paint. Carpenter led the way for DU with a double-double on 16 points (8-for-14) and 11 rebounds. Elliott followed with a career-high 14 points while adding three assists and two boards. Hutras and Warcaba each totaled nine points on the night, with Hutras turning in a team-best four steals. Beal rounded out Denison's leading scorers with eight points, six rebounds, and five assists.

Wooster's Maria Janasko posted a team-high 15 points and 11 rebounds. Krista English chipped in 10 points off the bench and Chritz followed with nine points and nine boards.

Denison and Wooster will square off again this Saturday, Feb. 20 when the Big Red return home to Livingston Gym for a 4 p.m. tip-off with the Fighting Scots. The game is closed to spectators. Tune into the live video stream at www.denisonbigred.com/watch.