GRANVILLE, Ohio (May 3, 2023) – The second-seeded Denison University women's lacrosse team used a 4-0 run over the first 18-plus minute of the second half to help secure a 13-7 victory over third-seeded Ohio Wesleyan University in the semifinal round of the 2023 North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament on Wednesday.

Denison answered the first goal of the game by OWU just over three minutes in with a goal by Maddie Morrell 37 seconds later.

Denison then led 3-1 after the first quarter following goals by Josie Lucchesi (9:92) and Allaire Kotz (8:26).

With a 3-2 lead and starting with 11:58 on the clock in the second quarter, a second 3-0 Big Red run featuring goals by Kotz, Bridget Sheehy (9:30) and Anna DeVuono (7:53) made it a 6-2 Denison lead before OWU cut it to 7-5 at the break.

From there, Denison took over in the second half and shutout the Battling Bishops 3-0 in the third quarter before a goal by DeVuono with 11:19 left in the fourth quarter made it a 4-0 run to start the second half and put the Big Red ahead by a score of 11-5.

Despite Denison outscoring OWU 6-2 in the second half, the Big Red only outshot the Battling Bishops 14-12 in the final 30 minutes, had to make two more saves than OWU (6-4), had three more turnovers (9-6), had one fewer groundball (8-7), and tied in draw controls (5-5).

DeVuono led Denison with three goals while Morrell, Lucchesi and Kotz each scored twice and Ashley Viglione and Jane Bailey both dished out four assists.

Abby Van Metre and Merrill Rollhaus both recorded four draw controls while goalkeeper Caroline O'Dea finished with 11 saves and seven goals allowed for a .611 save percentage.

Denison improves to 8-10 on the season and will advance to Saturday's (May 6) NCAC Tournament Championship where they will play at No. 21 nationally-ranked and top-seeded Kenyon College (17-0) at 1 p.m. in Gambier, Ohio. The Owls defeated fourth-seeded DePauw University 18-6 in the other semifinal matchup on Wednesday. It will be Denison's 11th appearance in the last 12 NCAC Tournament Championship games and will be its ninth straight appearance under the leadership of Head Coach Amanda Daniels.