SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (February 22, 2022) – No. 4-seeded Wittenberg University eliminated the No. 5-seeded Denison University women's basketball team from the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday night following a 56-44 defeat at Pam Evans Smith Arena.

Denison trailed by 10 (14-4) six minutes into the game after starting only 2-for-12 from the field, but a midrange jumper by Molly Fisher followed by a transition layup by Francesca Sileo assisted by Maddie Goodman made it 14-9.

The Big Red then closed out the first half with another jumper by Fisher before Goodman found Mikaila Carpenter open by the basket for a layup just before the clock expired to make it 16-13.

Unfortunately, Wittenberg started off the second quarter on a 9-0 run and went on to outscore Denison 17-2 overall in the period. The Big Red's only basket in the second quarter was a layup by Carpenter four and a half minutes in as they shot 1-for-9 from the field.

Denison was 7-for-26 (26.9 percent) from the field, 0-for-11 from three and 1-for-5 from the free throw line in the first half and had 12 turnovers. Wittenberg, meanwhile, had six steals compared to none for the Big Red, and led the game 12-2 on points off turnovers.

After going down by as many as 22 points in the third quarter (42-20), Denison rattled over 11 straight points, ending with a 3-pointer by Fisher to make it 42-31 with 1:13 left in the period. In all, the Big Red outscored the Tigers 18-11 in the third quarter and shot 7-for-13 (53.85 percent) from the field.

Then with 4:15 left to play, two free throws by Goodman got the Big Red to within single digits for the first time in the second half at 49-40, and then with 3:18 left Carpenter made a free throw to make it 49-41. Unfortunately, Wittenberg answered with a 3-pointer to get its lead back to 11 with three minutes left.

Goodman led Denison with 10 points while Carpenter had nine, Fisher had seven and Isa Contreras had six.

Denison finished its 33rd season under the direction of Head Coach Sara Lee with an overall record of 9-14.