GAMBIER, Ohio - The weather still hasn't warmed yet in Ohio, a sign that the winter season still has a grip on the state. The Wittenberg Tigers still haven't warmed up yet either, as evidenced by 27 percent shooting from the field, including a 1-of-16 performance from three-point range, in a disappointing 56-43 defeat against Denison in the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals hosted by Kenyon College.

The loss ended a two-year run as NCAC Tournament champions for the Tigers just a week after Wittenberg's three-year run atop the NCAC regular season standings came to an end with Kenyon capturing the title. Denison, the tournament's second seed after finishing in a second-place tie with Wittenberg at 12-4 in the NCAC regular season, advanced to Saturday's championship game at 3 p.m. against either top-seeded Kenyon or fifth-seeded Ohio Wesleyan. The Tigers rounded out the 2004-05 season with a 17-10 overall record, while Denison improved to 18-8.

Several short scoring runs by Denison made the difference in this game, including a 12-6 burst to close the first half and take a commanding 33-24 advantage into the halftime locker room. Then in the second half, after Wittenberg closed to within five points at the 9:23 mark, Denison put the game away with a 9-0 run that pushed the lead out to 51-37 with 5:59 remaining.

Shooting percentage was the difference in the game, especially since Wittenberg grabbed six more rebounds and committed one less turnover. The Tigers were harrassed into just 7-of-35 shooting from the field in the second half, however, and they finished the game a paltry 1-of-16 from beyond the three-point arc. No Tiger player who attemped four or more shots in the game finished with a shooting percentage above 50.

The final numbers showed just one Tiger player in double figures offensively, freshman guard Ellie Stonecash with 11 points in 15 minutes off the bench. Senior guard Emilie Schmid added nine points, and junior post Joyce Dindo was the most effective Tiger interior player with four points and a game-high seven rebounds off the bench.

Denison turned a hat trick with a third win over Wittenberg in the 2004-05 season after losing 40 of 46 games against the Tigers coming into the campaign. They did it with another outstanding defensive effort, spearheaded by seven blocked shots, 20 points and four rebounds by Kristen Sheffield. Emma Woodward added 13 points and a game-high nine boards.