UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – The No. 15 Denison women's basketball team continued its undeafeated run with a statement road victory on Saturday afternoon, knocking off No. 10 John Carroll, 58-41, at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center. The Big Reds used a dominant fourth quarter to pull away, holding the Blue Streaks to just four points over the final 10 minutes to improve to 16-0 on the season and 5-0 in NCAC play. This marks Denison's first win over a ranked opponent since the 2016–17 season.
First Quarter: The game opened at a slow pace, with the score sitting at just 7–6 at the first five minutes. The two teams continued to trade baskets down the stretch, and after John Carroll knocked down a late three-pointer,
Isabelle McFadden answered with one of her own to close the first quarter. Denison trailed by one, 14–13.
Second Quarter: After the teams were tied twice in the quarter, the Big Reds found their momentum, using a 10–2 run to take a 24–18 lead with under three minutes remaining. John Carroll capitalized on a few trips to the free-throw line to tie the game but Denison closed the half with three straight baskets to carry a seven-point advantage into the break, 30–23. The Big Red were able to hold the Blue Streaks to just nine points in the frame.
Third Quarter: Denison finally broke through with its first basket of the second half at the 6:40 mark, but neither team saw another shot fall until 4:29. John Carroll connected on a three-pointer with four minutes remaining, but
Adelyn Moore answered with one of her own to push the Big Reds' lead back to seven with three minutes to play, 37–30.
Abby Cooch converted at the line before beating the buzzer with a layup, giving the Big Red a 43–37 advantage heading into the final frame.
Fourth Quarter: The Big Red capitalized at the free-throw line with five makes as both teams went without a field goal until the 5:10 mark. Cooch then finished a layup to push the lead into double digits with under five minutes remaining, making it 50–39. She later added a three-pointer, while
Violet Mitchell and
Anelly Mad-toingué chipped in with layups of their own, as Denison stretched the margin to 17 and closed out the 58–41 victory.
Top Performers:
- Abby Cooch led the Big Red in scoring with 11 points while also contributing four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
- Violet Mitchell followed closely with 10 points, seven rebounds, and a steal.
- Ada Taute added eight points, seven rebounds, four steals, and an assist
- Anelly Mad-toingué dominated the glass with 14 rebounds to go along with five points, an assist, and a steal.
