DePauw closed the first half with an 8-2 run on the way to a 31-24 halftime advantage. The Tigers extended the lead to as many as 10 early in the second half, but the Sea Lions battled back to take a 50-49 advantage with just over five minutes left.
The Tigers, however, broke a 55-55 tie with seven straight points on a jumper and three from Caitlin McGonigal and a bucket by Liz Bondi with 1:55 remaining. DePauw hit five of six free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.
Bondi, the tournament's most valuable player, paced the Tigers with 19 points, while all-tournament team representative Cassie Pruzin added 15. Bridget Bailey added 10 points in the win and led the Tigers with six rebounds. Suzy Doughty dished out five assists and recorded three steals.
Kerra Sutton-Wodarski paced the Sea Lions with 16 points and six rebounds, while Erica Dotson added 12 points.
The Tigers shot just 38.9 percent from the floor, but had a convincing 43-24 advantage on the boards.
DePauw returns to action on Friday, January 5, when it travels to Sewanee.
DePauw University vs Point Loma Nazarene 12/30/06 4:10 pm at San Diego, CA (Golden Gym) At San Diego, CA (Golden Gym) DEPAUW UNIVERSITY 67, POINT LOMA NAZARENE 57 DEPAUW UNIVERSITY (11-1) Liz Bondi 6-10 7-8 19; Cassie Pruzin 5-10 0-0 15; Bridget Bailey 3-8 4-5 10; Caitlin McGonigal 2-4 2-2 7; Gwen Haehl 2-2 0-0 5; Gretchen Haehl 1-4 3-3 5; Kalei Lowes 1-4 0-0 3; Suzy Doughty 1-6 0-0 2; Andrea Travelstead 0-2 1-2 1; Meghan Warner 0-1 0-0 0; Emily Marshall 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 21-54 17-20 67. POINT LOMA NAZARENE (8-3) SUTTON-WODARSKI, Ker 6-15 4-4 16; DOTSON, Erica 5-7 1-1 12; PLANETA, Colleen 4-6 2-2 10; MANJARREZ, Angela 2-8 2-2 7; HILBELINK, Kati 1-5 1-2 4; McGUIRE, Meghan 2-10 0-0 4; ECTOR, Liah 0-0 2-2 2; WESOLOWSKI, Jaclyn 0-0 2-2 2; ARRILOA, Danielle 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-51 14-15 57. DePauw University............. 31 36 - 67 Point Loma Nazarene........... 24 33 - 57 3-point goals--DePauw University 8-20 (Cassie Pruzin 5-10; Gwen Haehl 1-1; Kalei Lowes 1-2; Caitlin McGonigal 1-3; Suzy Doughty 0-2; Gretchen Haehl 0-2), Point Loma Nazarene 3-12 (HILBELINK, Kati 1-2; DOTSON, Erica 1-2; MANJARREZ, Angela 1-4; McGUIRE, Meghan 0-1; SUTTON-WODARSKI, Ker 0-3). Fouled out--DePauw University-None, Point Loma Nazarene-None. Rebounds--DePauw University 43 (Bridget Bailey 6), Point Loma Nazarene 24 (SUTTON-WODARSKI, Ker 6). Assists--DePauw University 13 (Suzy Doughty 5), Point Loma Nazarene 14 (MANJARREZ, Angela 4). Total fouls--DePauw University 13, Point Loma Nazarene 17. Technical fouls--DePauw University-None, Point Loma Nazarene-None. A-234 Championship Game Surf N Slam Tournament DePauw Wins Championship, PLNU 2nd PLNU ranked #15 in the NAIA, DePauw ranked #5 in NCAA DIII MVP of the tournament is Liz Bondi of DePauw