Tiger Fall Just Short in Championship Game

Delaware, OH - Wittenberg Women's Basketball played its second straight game in Ohio Wesleyan's Branch Rickey Arena, this time taking on second-seeded DePauw in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament Championship Game after defeating top-seeded Ohio Wesleyan in a nail-biter just a day prior. DePauw has advanced to the championship game by getting the better of Hiram in the semifinals.

Wittenberg came out on fire to start the game, going on an 8-0 run behind back-to-back threes from Kelsey Ragan (Whitehouse, OH / Anthony Wayne) and Karsen Karlblom (Crystal Lake, IL / Prairie Ridge), followed by a jumper from Jazmyn Gaines-Burns (Bladensburg, MD / Elizabeth Seton). Ragan hit another three as both teams started to find the bottom of the basket before the quarter ended with Wittenberg leading, 13-12.

Both teams struggled offensively in the second quarter, however, as Wittenberg scored just two points while holding DePauw to just six points in the quarter. As the teams entered the locker rooms for halftime, DePauw had a three-point advantage at 18-15.

Coming out of halftime, both teams were able to hit a few key shots, including a three-pointer from Karlblom that tied it at 20-all. DePauw answered with a 15-6 run, hitting threes and grabbing what seemed to be every rebound to take a 35-26 lead into the fourth quarter.

After overcoming a 13-point deficit just a day before in the semifinal, Wittenberg entered the fourth quarter down nine. To open the quarter, Riane Burton (Houston, TX / Cypress Ranch) hit a layup, and then Karlblom and Ragan each hit three-pointers before Burton converted on another layup to cut the deficit to just 37-36 with seven minutes remaining. DePauw went up 40-37, but Gaines-Burns hit a three to tie things at 40-all. Things stayed knotted at 42-all until the 2:01 mark when Karlblom hit a jumper to put the Tigers up 44-42.

DePauw went up by one on a three-pointer with 1:42 remaining, and the Indiana Tigers got the ball back, leading Wittenberg to foul. DePauw made one-of-two free throws with 18 seconds left to play to go up by two. Taryn Cash (Cincinnati, OH / Princeton) was able to get up a shot with a lot of contact as time expired, but no foul was called and DePauw took home the championship, 46-44, with its third win over Wittenberg of the 2024-25 season.

Burton and Karlblom were given NCAC All-Tournament Team honors following the conclusion of the game.

Team Leaders

• Karlblom led Wittenberg with 11 points, while Ragan and Burton both dropped nine apiece.
• Burton paced the team in rebounds with seven and Karlblom pulled down five of her own.
• Cash led the team with four assists and Madi Barnett (Cincinnati, OH / Kings) added a spark off the bench with two.

Team Comparison

• Wittenberg shot a better percentage in every category on the game, while only having nine turnovers to DePauw's 15. 
• Wittenberg also led in points off turnovers with a 19 to five advantage.
• The difference in the game was rebounding as DePauw held a stunning 61-29 advantage in that department.

The win gave DePauw its ninth NCAC Tournament title, and moved the Indiana Tigers on to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Wittenberg's season concludes with a record of 18-10.