Denison Women's Basketball Wins NCAA Division III National Title

Big Red defeat No. 2 Scranton 55-41 to claim first championship in program history

Mar. 22, 2026 at 7:04pm

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The Denison women's basketball team capped off a dream season by winning the NCAA Division III national championship on March 21. Denison defeated No. 2 Scranton 55-41, using a dominant 22-7 edge in the fourth quarter to secure the title. The Big Red beat the Nos. 2, 4 and 3 teams in the country in succession in their final three games.

Why it matters

Denison's championship victory marks the first NCAA title in program history, a significant achievement for the small liberal arts college. The Big Red's stifling defense held Scranton, one of the highest-scoring teams in Division III, to just 41 points on 20% shooting, showcasing their ability to win on both ends of the floor.

The details

Denison (30-2) was led by Abby Cooch's 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and Ada Taute's 15 points. Mad-toingue Anelly grabbed 16 rebounds for the Big Red, who held Scranton (31-1) to nearly half of its 80 points per game scoring average.

  • The NCAA Division III women's basketball championship game was played on March 21, 2026.

The players

Abby Cooch

A key player for Denison, scoring 18 points and hitting four 3-pointers in the championship game.

Ada Taute

Contributed 15 points to Denison's championship victory.

Mad-toingue Anelly

Grabbed 16 rebounds for Denison in the title game.

Scranton

The No. 2-ranked team in Division III, which Denison defeated 55-41 to win the national championship.

Denison

The small liberal arts college whose women's basketball team won its first NCAA Division III national title.

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The takeaway

Denison's improbable run to the Division III national championship showcases the program's ability to compete at the highest level, despite being a small school. The Big Red's stifling defense and balanced scoring attack proved too much for their highly-ranked opponents, cementing their place in the history books.