TIFFIN -- The Heidelberg University Women's Basketball Team opened the 2023-24 campaign with a 55-52 loss to Denison University on Wednesday night.  The Student Princes closed a 10-point gap to one possession on a handful of occasions, but were unable to deliver the critical basket.  

Heidelberg was led by Cheyanne Bean who secured her first career double-double with 14 points and 10 boards in the loss. Morgan Altenburger added 11 points and 9 rebounds, while Chloe Gilbert and Maciaha Irving each added 7 points of their own. 

Despite open looks at both ends of the floor, Heidelberg and Denison both struggled to score in the first quarter -- shooting a combined 8-of-33 from the floor.  The game was knotted at 10 after one.  

Both teams seemed to settle their nerves and enjoyed more offensive success in the second quarter. The Big Red nearly doubled their shooting percentage and built an eight-point lead with 90 seconds left.  A 3-pointer by Amari Slaughter -- one of three in the quarter for The Berg -- made it 28-23 at halftime.  

A fast-break layup off a missed 3-pointer pushed the Big Red lead into double figures for the first time at 41-31, and elicited a 'Berg timeout.  

In the waning seconds of the third, Cheyanne Bean corralled an offensive rebound and kicked it out to Elisha Carter. The junior buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer, cutting the Denison lead down to 46-40 after three.  

Carter's triple-hit allowed Heidelberg to carry momentum into the fourth. Bean opened the period with back-to-back buckets -- drawing a timeout from Denison.  

Bean's hustle in the paint helped HU get to within one with just under four minutes to play.

HU had the ball with 33.0 seconds left, trailing 54-52. On a deflected ball on a pick and roll, Bean grabbed the loose ball and had a good look at an equalizer. The rebound went to the Big Red helping them close out the 55-52 victory.

The Student Princes were undone by 25 turnovers in the game. Denison held a 16-6 edge in points off turnovers. 

Heidelberg returns to action with a rare Sunday matinee. The Student Princes host Defiance at 1 p.m.