Box Score
DePauw 56, Ohio Wesleyan 53

Senior guard Kasey Schipfer (Mechanicsburg) scored to bring Ohio Wesleyan within a single point during the final minutes of regulation time, but DePauw withstood the Bishop comeback to post a win in the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament championship game on Saturday in Greencastle, Ind.
With the win, DePauw receives the NCAC's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III tournament.

DePauw led, 47-45, heading into the fourth period but increased its lead with lay-ins from Olivia Hart and Ainsley Boras during the opening minutes of the quarter.

The Bishops then held the Tigers without a basket for more than 6 minutes.  Schipfer recorded a jumper and a lay-in to make it a 51-49 game, and after DePauw's Riley Mont split a pair of free throws with 3:28 to go, it was Schipfer again, this time with a lay-in to bring the Bishops within 52-51 with 2:28 to play.

After DePauw's Alina Prusko and Schipfer traded buckets, the Tigers held a 54-53 lead entering the final minute.  

Freshman post Macy Miller (Marysville/Fairbanks) blocked a shot by Ava Hassel and controlled the rebound, giving the Bishops a chance to take the lead, but a 3-pointer by senior point guard Elizabeth Homan (Cincinnati/Anderson) was off the mark with :30 left and Prusko grabbed the rebound.  A pair of Bishop fouls sent Prusko to the line with :11 left, and Prusko sank both shots for a 56-53 lead.

Schipfer had a look at a game-tying 3-pointer, but the shot rebounded high off the rim.  Miller outfought a pair of Tiger defenders for the rebound and went back up, looking to draw a foul for a 3-point play opportunity, but the lay-in didn't fall just before the horn.

Ohio Wesleyan led for most of the first quarter, with Schipfer free throws twice giving the Bishops a 4-point lead.  The Bishops took their biggest lead of the game at 15-9 on a jumper by junior post Alyssa Griner (Delaware/Hayes), but DePauw closed the gap, then took a 30-25 lead after 3-pointers by Diana Burgher and Moira McGinley late in the second quarter.

The Tigers still led, 45-40, late in the third quarter, but a burst of 5 points in 21 seconds evened the score.  Homan was fouled and split a pair of free throws, then Milller stole the ball and scored, and Grinver followed with a steal and fed Schipfer for a basket that made it 45-45.

Schipfer led the Bishops with 18 points and 8 rebounds, and Griner added 17 points.  Homan had a team-high 5 assists.

Schipfer and Griner represented the Bishops on the all-tournament team.

Box Score