First time for everything

Mar 22, 2025
Photo by Brian Bishop, d3photography.com
 


In a season full of "firsts" for Denison women's basketball, here's one more -- the Big Red are national champions after defeating Scranton, 55-41.

After both teams struggled to score in the first half, Scranton heated up in the second and briefly took the lead on Elizabeth Bennett's three early in the fourth quarter. But Denision responded with a 14-2 run including back-to-back threes from Abby Cooch. Denison maintained its lead and then put the game away when Cooch drilled a three as the shot clock expired and pushed Denisons lead to double digits.

Cooch finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, while All-American Ada Taute posted a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) and Anelly Mad-Toingué finished with eight points, 16 rebounds and countless shots altered. All three will return next season.

Denison (30-2) completes an incredible run that started outside the Top 25 and then gradually racked up a series of program bests. The Big Red defeated the teams ranked No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 in their final three game.

Scranton (32-1) was led by All-American Kaeli Romanowski who had nine points and 17 rebounds.

More to come.

How they got here

No. 8 Denison (29-2)
def. Southern Virginia, 82-47
def. #24 Trine, 63-54
def. #11 John Carroll, 86-67
def. #3 Washington & Lee, 77-64
def. #4 UW-Oshkosh, 82-61
 

No. 2 Scranton (31-0)
 def. Framingham State, 104-39
def. Otterbein, 82-43
def. #12 Bates, 76-59
def. #20 Concordia-Moorhead, 67-42
def. #1 New York U., 60-52
 

 

All-Tournament Team
Abby Cooch, Denison (Most Outstanding Player)
Ada Taute, Denison
Kaeli Romanowski, Scranton
Caroline Peper, New York U.
Sammi Beyer, UW-Oshkosh

Tonight's scoreboard 

2026 D-III women's basketball NCAA Tournament scoreboard

March 18, 2026 - March 24, 2026
March 21, 2026
Women's Basketball
Denison
55
Scranton
41
Final 1 2 3 4 T
Denison (30-2,14-1 NCAC) 11 8 14 22 55
Scranton (32-1,18-0 Landmark) 10 1 23 7 41

Game Leaders

Denison
Pts: Abby Cooch - 18
Reb: Anelly Mad-Toingué - 16
Ast: Abby Cooch - 4
Scranton
Pts: 2 Players (#11, #21 - 10)
Reb: Kaeli Romanowski - 17
Ast: Meghan Lamanna - 4

Team Stats

Denison
Scranton

Field Goals

(23-71)
(14-69)

Field Goal %

32.4%
20.3%

Rebounds

58
50

Assists

13
9

Turnovers

11
10

Pts off Turnovers

11
8

2nd Chance Pts

8
7

Pts in the Paint

30
10

Fastbreak Pts

6
3

Bench Pts

6
9
Video Preview Box Score Live stats