A layup by fifth-year guard Kasey Schipfer and a 3-pointer from junior guard Mia Guscoff at the end of the first quarter gave 14th-ranked Ohio Wesleyan the lead, which the Bishops never gave up as they went on to defeat DePauw, 71-57, in a North Coast Athletic Conference matchup on Wednesday at Branch Rickey Arena.

With the win, the Bishops clinched the NCAC championship outright for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.  They shared the conference title last season and in the 2000-01 season.  Ohio Wesleyan will be the No. 1 seed in next week's NCAC tournament and will host the tournament semifinals and championship game on Fri.-Sat., Feb. 28-March 1.

The win also was Ohio Wesleyan's 15th in a row, tying the school record set during the 1978-79 season.

Fifth-year point guard Elizabeth Homan got the Bishops on the board with a quick 3-pointer.  Senior post Karlee Ross tallied a layup and a free throw but the Bishops still trailed.  Ross added another layup to tie the game at 12 before the Bishops took the lead.

Homan kicked off the second quarter with another 3-pointer as the Bishops advanced their lead.  Sophomore post Macy Miller collected a layup and Ross added a jumper as the half ran down.  A 3-pointer from Guscoff stretched the Bishops' lead into double digits, and that grew to 42-29 with a buzzer-beating jumper from Homan.

Miller scored back-to-back jumpers to start the second half before fifth-year guard Lauren Denison posted a 3-pointer.  DePauw tried to close the gap, earning 4 free throws that they sank, but the Bishops still led by 17 going into the final quarter.

The Tigers' Ava Hassel and Tori Allen both sank 3-pointers to bring the visitors within 11, but jumpers by Schipfer and senior guard Maddie Schumacher immediately widened the gap again.  Free throws from Homan and one from Ross wrapped up the game with a hard-fought win.

Schipfer finished with 18 points.  The 18 points moved Schipfer's career total to 2073 points, moving Schipfer into the top 50 all-time in NCAA Division III.

Homan added 13 points and 9 assists.  Ross scored 12 points, and Miller posted a double-double, notching 10 points and 12 rebounds.