WAUKESHA, Wis. – Behind a dominant performance from Natalie Gricius and a strong fourth-quarter surge, Carroll women's basketball rallied past DePauw, 74–67, Friday night at Van Male Fieldhouse in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
DePauw controlled much of the first half, using second-chance opportunities and timely perimeter shooting to build momentum early. The Tigers jumped out to a 16–11 lead after the first quarter and extended their advantage in the second, holding Carroll to 19 points while pushing the margin to as many as 14. Carroll went into halftime trailing 39–30 after DePauw capitalized on offensive rebounds and turnovers to control the tempo.
Despite the deficit, Carroll stayed within striking distance behind Gricius, who shouldered the offensive load in the first half. The CCIW Player of the Year scored 20 points before the break, keeping the Pioneers close as DePauw carried a nine-point lead into halftime.
The third quarter remained tightly contested, with both teams trading baskets. Julia Lokker provided a spark on the wing, while Emilie Wizner knocked down key perimeter shots to prevent the Tigers from pulling away. Still, DePauw entered the fourth quarter ahead 57–49, setting the stage for a decisive final period.
Carroll took control in the fourth, outscoring DePauw 25–10 over the final 10 minutes. The Pioneers turned up the defensive pressure, forcing missed shots and limiting second-chance opportunities, while Gricius dominated inside and at the free-throw line. Carroll tied the game at 64 with just over two minutes remaining before taking the lead for good on a Lokker putback following an offensive rebound.
Gricius closed the game at the line, scoring nine points in the final quarter alone, as Carroll sealed the victory with composure and execution down the stretch. She finished with a game-high 39 points on 12-of-24 shooting, including four three-pointers and an 11-of-13 effort at the free-throw line. The 39 points matched her career high as well, which she had earlier in the season against Ripon.
Lokker added 16 points, including the go ahead bucket with under a minute to go, while Wizner chipped in 12, including two critical fourth-quarter free throws. Carroll shot 46.4 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from beyond the arc, while holding DePauw to just 18.8 percent shooting in the fourth quarter.
With the win, Carroll improved to 23–5 on the season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, continuing its postseason run to play UW-La Crosse at 7:45pm back at Van Male.
