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| Denison picked up its 16th straight win to start the season with a big road victory at No. 10 John Carroll. File photo by Hailey Owens, Denison University athletics |
No. 15 Denison picked up its first win over a ranked opponent since 2016-17 while Salisbury beat Christopher Newport for the first time in 19 tries. Elsewhere, St. Scholastica edged No. 21 Bethel.
Denison is poised to rise in the rankings itself after the Big Red downed No. 10 John Carroll, 58-51, on the road. Denison held the Blue Streaks scoreless for the first half of the final period and to just four fourth-quarter points. Abby Cooch scored 11 points for Denison (16-0, 5-0 NCAC) including a late three that put the game out of reach. The win starts a key three-game stretch where Denison plays No. 10 John Carroll, Wittenberg, and then No. 12 Ohio Wesleyan over eight days. The Blue Streaks, who have lost to OWU and Denison, sit two games back of those teams.
The rest of the Top 10 won their Saturday matchups, including No. 6 Washington and Lee taking care of business at Randolph-Macon, 58-41. The Generals finished the game on a 12-0 run and enjoyed another stellar performance from All-American Mary Schleusner. She racked up 24 points, 17 rebounds, and four assists, all team highs, and now sits 20 boards short of the Division III career record. W&L (15-0, 6-0 ODAC) also set a program record with 15 straight wins.
The showdown for first place in the Landmark Conference was no contest, as No. 2 Scranton blasted Catholic, 71-41. The Royals held Catholic to 29 percent shooting and scored 22 points off 21 CUA turnovers. Kaci Kranson posted her first double-double of the season (18 points, 13 rebounds).
No. 7 UW-Whitewater rebounded from Wednesday’s loss with an impressive 72-53 win at UW-Stout. The Warhawks got 21 points in 23 minutes from Mia Gillis, who shot 7 for 14 from the field. UW-Whitewater (13-3, 3-2 WIAC) remain two games back of No. 3 UW-Oshkosh, which rolled over UW-River Falls.
Nicole Miller scored 28 points, including the game-tying basket late in the fourth quarter, and Salisbury defeated No. 25 Christopher Newport in overtime, 71-67. Salisbury shot 43 percent from the floor while the Captains struggled from three where they shot 5 for 37. The win is Salisbury’s first over CNU since 2015, snapping an 18-game losing streak to the Captains.
St. Scholastica knocked off No. 21 Bethel, 65-63, creating a five-way tie for second place in the MIAC behind leader Concordia-Moorhead. Evie Schmitz hit a three that gave the Saints a 60-59 lead and sank four free throws down the stretch to ice St. Scholastica’s win. Those two teams are tied with Hamline, St. Mary’s, and St. Benedict, which are all 6-2 in conference.
Lauren Sansano led five Texas Lutheran players in double-digit scoring with 21 points, and the Bulldogs came from behind to beat McMurry, 74-71, in a matchup of SCAC title hopefuls. After Laura Sierra's second-chance layup pulled TLU even with McMurry at 71, the Bulldogs stopped the Warhawks and then got two free throws from Davi'yanna Jones. McMurry came up empty on its next possession, and Jones added one more free throw to finish the scoring for Texas Lutheran (11-4, 6-0 SCAC). Helena Chadwick scored 27 points for McMurry (11-3, 5-1 SCAC).
Liv Monturo scored 21 points, including the game-winning jumper in the final minute, as Messiah edged York (Pa.), 50-49. After Monturo gave the Falcons the lead, the Spartans had one more chance, but Monturo swiped the ball with one second left to seal Messiah's win. The Falcons sit one game back of Albright which edged its Reading, Pa. rival Alvernia, 53-52.
On the other side of the MAC, Stevens converted 19 of 26 free throws and held off DeSales, 56-51, to create a three-way tie for first in the Freedom Conference. Olivia Schubiger scored 20 points and made all eight of her free throw attempts for the Ducks (12-3, 3-1 MACF) who share first with DeSales and Arcadia.
Vassar stopped Union from running away with the Liberty League by going to Schenectady and beating the Garnet Chargers, 54-52. Sierra McDermed scored 18 points for Vassar (6-7, 5-1) including the game winner from the foul line with 10 seconds left.