Titans Suffer First Loss Of Season

Maya Howard had a game-high 19 points and hit the eventual game-winning shot with 32 seconds to play as DePauw University (Ind.) pulled out a 60-56 win over the UW-Oshkosh women's basketball team on Tuesday (Dec. 20) at the Puerto Rico Clasico in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

UW-Oshkosh's Eliza Campbell converted a three-point play to tie the score at 56 with 44 seconds remaining, but Howard's jumper gave the Tigers a 58-56 lead.

Following a timeout, the Titans committed a turnover on their final possession, and DePauw University's Claire Ryan converted two free throws with three seconds remaining to provide the game's final score.

DePauw University (9-1) increased its winning streak to six games by owning advantages in field goal percentage (.426 to .341), free throw percentage (.800 to .655) and rebounds (39-26). The Titans went into the game ranked ninth nationally with a +13.6 rebounding margin per game.

UW-Oshkosh (9-1), playing its first regular season game outside the United States, also entered the contest leading the country with 36.1 points allowed per game and just 82 turnovers while listing second by limiting opponents to a 28.2 percent shooting from the field.

The Titans, ranked ninth in the NCAA Division III by D3hoops.com, shot just 10 percent (1-10) during the first quarter but rallied to cut their deficit to 24-22 at intermission.

DePauw University never trailed during the first half. The Tigers built a 12-3 lead in the opening period by holding the Titans scoreless for more than six minutes. A free throw by Taylor Schmidt ended the UW-Oshkosh drought that cut the Titan deficit to 12-4 with 1:54 to play in the first period, but Ryan later drained a jumper for a 17-6 Tiger lead after one quarter.

UW-Oshkosh's Jaimee Pitt provided a spark off the bench, scoring six quick points to pull the Titans within 19-15 with just over four minutes left in the second period. A 3-pointer by Pitt cut the UW-Oshkosh deficit to 24-20, and a pair of free throws by Morgan Kokta made the score 24-22 at intermission.

The Titans took their first lead at 28-27 on a jumper by Schmidt early in third quarter, but Howard answered with a basket on the ensuing possession. A 3-pointer by Howard increased the Tiger lead to 36-32, and jumper by Emily Budde gave DePauw University a 38-34 edge entering the final period.

A 3-pointer by Kokta gave UW-Oshkosh its second lead of the game at 42-41 before the Tigers' Kylie Morris knocked down a pair of free throws 14 seconds later. UW-Oshkosh claimed its final advantage of the contest at 44-43 following two free throws from Pitt with 7:04 remaining. However, DePauw University never trailed after Budde made a basket to reclaim a 55-54 edge at the 5:55 mark.

Another 3-pointer by Kokta cut the Tiger lead to 49-48 with just under five minutes to play, but DePauw University rattled off five consecutive points to build a 54-48 with three minutes to go.

Campbell drained two free throws and Schmidt hit a 3-pointer as UW-Oshkosh pulled within 54-53 with 82 seconds left before Howard, who scored 14 of her 19 points during the second half, answered with a jumper for a 56-53 lead with 58 seconds remaining.

Howard finished the game 8-for-16 from the floor to go along with four rebounds and a team-best two assists.

Sydney Kopp added 10 points for DePauw University, which also received nine points apiece from Budde and Ryan and seven from Morris. Taylor Howard chipped in six points and a team-leading seven rounds for the Tigers.

Campbell paced the Titans with 17 points on 6 of 12 shooting from the field and six rebounds.

Pitt contributed a career-best 12 points for the Titans while Schmidt had 11 points and Kokta eight points with a game-high three assists.

UW-Oshkosh concludes its trip to Puerto Rico with a game against John Carroll University (Ohio) on Wednesday (Dec. 21).