GRANVILLE, Ohio – Denison University got a massive boost from its bench as it defeated Kenyon College 63-43 on Tuesday night in a North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinal round women's basketball game at Livingston Gymnasium. Kenyon ended its season with a 10-16 record.
 
The Big Red's bench outscored Kenyon's 31-12 and it held an 18-6 second-chance points advantage as they defeated the Ladies for the eighth straight occasion in the NCAC tourney.
 
Once again, senior Paige Matijasich led the Ladies. In her final game in a Kenyon uniform, she tallied game-highs with 13 points, five assists and seven rebounds. She finished her career ranked fourth in free throw percentage (77.8), fifth in rebounds (687) and seventh in points (1,402).
 
Collectively, the Ladies committed more turnovers (21) than made shots (16) while hitting 35.6 percent from the field.
 
Early in the first, the Ladies had scored twice, stopped three Denison possessions and after a layup from Greta Propp, led 5-0. That strong start failed to continue, though. In the last eight minutes, Kenyon missed eight of ten shots and turned the ball over five times.
 
Denison did not fare much better on offense, but baskets from Aliyah Hunter, Lauren Hofer and Lily Morris gave the hosts an 11-10 lead.  
 
In the second, the Big Red extended their lead to seven, 19-12, after a three by Alison Schafer. The Ladies scored the next two baskets from Bridget Molnar and Madelyn Anderson, however, Denison responded. With a 19-16 advantage, Denison went on an 8-0 run to seize a 27-16 lead with 3:17 remaining.
 
By halftime, the Ladies trailed 27-19 after a three-pointer from Ellie Scaub with about two minutes left.
 
After intermission, Matijasich helped the Ladies get off to another strong start. She scored five points while Amanda Carroll added two to pull the deficit to four, 30-26. Once more, though, Denison followed with a big stretch, this one the game-clincher.
 
A Zyah Beal three-ball started an 11-1 run for the hosts which led 41-27 at 2:24 after a Lauren Longbrake jumper from the baseline. The Ladies could not get closer than eight points after that. That came with 7:43 left in the fourth after an Anderson three-ball.