GAMBIER, Ohio – The second-seeded Kenyon Ladies will look to snap a six-game losing streak to sixth-seeded Denison University in the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament on February 24 when the two rivals square off in a tournament semifinal game on the campus of DePauw University. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Neal Fieldhouse.
 
This will be the 10th all-time contest in the conference tourney between the Ladies and Big Red including the sixth meeting in the semifinal round. Denison has never lost (5-0) to Kenyon in the semis. The last time Kenyon won against DU was February 23, 1999 when they claimed a 56-53 quarterfinal win.
 
Kenyon (19-7) makes its second straight semifinal appearance after defeating Wittenberg University 61-46 on February 21. In that game, the Ladies didn't allow much to the Tigers who shot just 26.9 percent from the field including a 16 percent clip (4-of-25) from three-point range.  Kenyon dominated the paint as well outscoring Witt 30-12.
 
Griffin Tullis led the team with a career-high 18 points while seven other players tallied at least a bucket in the game. Kenyon's offense has been pretty efficient lately hitting at least 43 percent in four of the last six games and that will have to continue if they hope to advance into Saturday's finals for the first time since 2013.
 
In recent memory against Denison, who has won three out of the last four regular-season meetings, Kenyon has shot 24.7 percent from the field and 18.8 percent from three-point range. Additionally, the Ladies' efforts at the free throw line will have to improve as they've hit just 7-of-17 (41.2%) in two games this year.
 
Defensively, the Ladies – who rank ninth in the nation in field goal percentage defense (31.5) and 24th in scoring defense (51.4) – match up well against Denison. In the two regular-season meetings, Kenyon held DU to 31.5 percent shooting and a 16.7 clip from downtown. And despite having to contend with an all-time NCAA Division III great in center Jordan Holmes, the Ladies have held their own in the post averaging slightly more rebounds than Denison (41.5 to 41).
 
On the other side, Denison (13-13) enters the semis after a 61-46 road win against third-seeded Ohio Wesleyan University. In that game, the Big Red's defense shined as they held OWU to no more than six points in two different quarters.
 
Holmes is Denison's go-to player. She leads the NCAC in minutes played per game (39.8) and she's the nation's leader in blocks per game (5.69) and total blocks (148). Holmes also ranks second in the country in defensive rebounds per game (11), total rebounds (399) and rebounds per game (15.3). Scoring-wise, she averages 12.5 points per game, fifth-best in the conference.
 
Denison freshman guard Alison Schafer will be another player Kenyon needs to keep tabs on as she averages 8.3 points per game and is seventh in the NCAC in made three-point shots (45). Senior Emily Krumpe is another option for DU as she's averaged 9 points per game this year against the Ladies.
 
As a team, Denison is 29th in the country in scoring defense allowing 52.1 points to its opponents while also holding opposing teams to 32.4 percent shooting (18th).
 
The winner of this game will take on the winner of DePauw vs. Oberlin College on Saturday at 4 p.m. for the NCAC tourney title.
 
Ticket prices for Friday and Saturday's games will be $10 for adults and $5 for children, students without a valid NCAC ID and anyone with an NCAC guest pass. Any NCAC student with a valid NCAC Institution ID will be admitted free of charge. Live coverage of the event can also be found here.