GRANVILLE, Ohio – Despite double-digit scoring efforts by juniors Brooke Orcutt (Morrison, Colo./Dakota Ridge) and Berit Eppard (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek), the Case Western Reserve University women's basketball team fell to host Denison University by a score of 62-52 in the finale of the Denison Classic on Sunday afternoon at Livingston Gymnasium.    

Orcutt led the Spartans (4-4) with a team-high 12 points and eight rebounds, while Eppard posted 11 points and seven boards. Sophomore post Laura Mummey (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) added seven points, six rebounds and a season-high three blocked shots en route to all-tournament team honors.

Three scored in double figures for the Big Red (6-1), including Candise Love with a game-high 16 points.

After trailing most of the way, the Spartans grabbed a 41-40 advantage when junior forward Erin Reynolds (St. Louis, Mo./Webster Groves) hit a layup with 10:42 left to play. Denison answered, however, with five in a row to start a game-deciding 19-5 run that culminated in a Love jumper that made the score 59-46 with just under a minute remaining.

The Big Red led by as many as 11 in the first half when Kellie Arter hit a three-pointer to make the score 25-14 with 6:39 left before halftime. But, a strong defensive that led to 11 turnovers helped Case pull within 29-25 at the break.

The Spartans opened the second period on a 10-5 run to grab their first lead of 35-34 as Mummey converted a layup with 13:41 on the clock. Neither team was able to build a significant advantage until Denison's late run put the game out of reach.

Case returns home to host The College of Wooster this Wednesday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Horsburgh Gymnasium.