| Katie Aldrich scored 20
points, shooting 8-for-10 from the field. DePauw athletics file photo |
NCAC newcomers No. 6 DePauw rolled over Hiram 85-43 to clinch the regular season conference title, while No. 19 Hope ended No. 4 Calvin's unbeaten run.
The Tigers have won their last eight games by an average of 34.9 points and have won 70 consecutive conference home games, most of them in the SCAC before joining their new conference this season. Katie Aldrich led DePauw with 20 points. Hope ended Calvin's streak with a 59-55 home win. The teams split the regular season series, with each team winning at home. Hope has lost only three home games since moving into the DeVos Fieldhouse.
Brianna Lucas hit a three-pointer with seven seconds left to push No. 9 William Paterson past Ramapo 62-59. The Pioneers clinched first place in the NJAC's North Division. No. 1 Amherst may have played its last road game for a long time. The Lord Jeffs defeated Tufts 48-31. Lem Atanga McCormick was the only player from either side to reach double digits.
With the win, Amherst clinches the top seed in the NESCAC tournament. The Lord Jeffs play Williams and Middlebury at home to close the regular season and then open the conference tournament. Last year Amherst hosted all its playoff games until the national semifinals.
Defensive-minded Mary Washington (see this past week's Around the Region) allowed Salisbury just eight field goals in a 52-53 win. Juniata needs one more win to secure the top seed in the Landmark Conference tournament. The 13th-ranked Eagles beat Moravian 63-60. No. 14 Franklin avenged its only loss of the season with a 66-51 victory at Manchester. Sarah Condra scored a career-high 30 points in the win. No. 15 St. Thomas ran its win streak to 20 games with a 63-41 win against Augsburg.
No. 24 UW-River Falls went to No. 16 UW-Eau Claire and came away a 60-58 winner behind 21 points from Tiffany Gregorich, including the game-winning basket with 15 seconds left. She also hit a three-pointer which gave the Falcons a one-point lead with 2:31 left. No. 20 Louisiana College outscored LeTourneau 58-22 in the second half to pull away and win 95-55. Roslyn Wilmer scored a game-high 23 points to lead four Louisiana College players in double figures.
Jamie Seward won his 100th career game, leading New Paltz State past Brockport State 76-50. Rhode Island College rolled past Mass-Boston, winning its 19th game and coming within one win of the program record. Meghan Nowak and Bekah Roland combined for 47 points and 24 rebounds as Eastern defeated Delaware Valley 85-73. Lakeland rallied from a 19-point deficit to defeat Benedictine 57-55.
Two breakaway layups by Brooke Olson late in overtime gave Wheaton (Ill.) a 63-62 overtime victory over Elmhurst. The teams are tied for third place in the CCIW at 7-3. Brooke Wehle converted a layup with 1.7 seconds left to help lift Buena Vista to a thrilling 64-63 home victory over Coe.