Springfield, Ohio - In a showdown to determine who would take the early lead in the 2023-24 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) title chase, it was the DePauw Tigers who came out hot, scoring the first seven points of the game and never looiking back in a 70-60 victory over Wittenberg.

The loss dropped Wittenberg to 9-4 overall and 2-1 in the NCAC, which puts the Tigers in a three-way tie for second place. DePauw is now 11-4 overall and 4-0 in the league.

The two teams shot a similar percentage from the field, but the visiting Tigers held two crucial statistical advantages. DePauw finished 6-of-20 from three-point range in the game, while Wittenberg went 0-for-7 from long distance, and the visiting Tigers made 12 more free throws.

Forty-eight of Wittenberg's 60 points came from three players, led by another tremendous double-double performance for Riane Burton (Houston, Texas/Cypress Ranch), who led both teams in scoring and rebounding with 22 points and 17 boards in the game. Madi Barnett (Cincinnati, Ohio/Kings) added 13 points and four assists off the bench, while Jazmyn Gaines-Burns (Bladensburg, Maryland/Elizabeth Seton) finished with 13 points and six rebounds.

Next up for the Tigers is a road game against Wooster at 4 p.m. Saturday, January 13.