DePauw’s Lady Tigers have lost 10 seniors to graduation in the last two years, but haven’t skipped a beat.

Their 22-3 record gives them 20 or more for the seventh time in eight seasons.

Junior guard Sarah Zondor, who ranks among the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference leaders field goal and free throw percentages and scoring, is not surprised.

“We’re having a lot of fun teasing people who doubted us,” said the sophomore from Crown Point.

Zondor credits DePauw’s success to a better-balanced offensive approach.

On Sunday she helped the Tigers earned the SCAC tournament No. 1 seed by scoring 18 of her 20 points in the first half of a victory over Sewanee.

The NCAA Division III power earned it with an overtime victory at Trinity even though both finished 13-1 in the conference.

Instead of rebuilding, DePauw Coach Kris Huffman reloaded. She revamped the offense to take advantage of Zondor’s skills.

“Last year we ran a high-low offense,” Huffman said, recalling a 22-5 season. “Now we spread it out more.”

During her freshman season Zondor concentrated on firing 3-pointers. This year she expanded her game.

“I’m trying to be more versatile by driving to the basket,” she said.

“Her penetration makes her much more difficult to defend,” Huffman agrees.

Crown Point’s Tom May, who coached Zondor, refers to her as one of the most underrated players ever to come out of Northwest Indiana.

“She’s the finest pure basketball shooter I’ve ever seen or coached,” he said. “Because she was almost automatic our staff was always surprised when it didn’t go in.”

Her powerful legs helped Zondor excel in volleyball and basketball at Crown Point.

“She had that ability to elevate,” May said. “A lot of high school girls go to a spot and shoot, but she would shoot over people.”

Zondor’s speed was deceiving because she accelerated so effortlessly.

May’s only complaint — if it could be called that — was her unselfishness. She seldom shot as much as he urged.

“We wanted her to take 20 to 25 shots a game,” he said.

Though quiet and unassuming, Zondor is equipped with an off-beat sense of humor.

“She can be the team clown, but not when the coaches are around,” Huffman said.

Zondor revealed that side of her quirky personality more often at Crown Point.

“She was a gas,” May said. “Very funny. She kept the team in stitches with one-liners I had no comeback for.”

May’s biggest regret was that Zondor didn’t make the Indiana All-Star team.

“Pat Aikman, who runs it for the (Indianapolis) Star, told me 'we missed the boat on that one,’ he said. “And he’s a DePauw graduate.”

Zondor’s competitive spirit speaks for her, particularly with her warrior approach to defense.

“She’s quiet, but her play on the court speaks volumes,” Huffman said.

Zondor is majoring in elementary education. Some day she would like to teach and coach.

“I like working with the younger kids,” she said.

The Tigers open the SCAC tournament Friday against Oglethorpe. Though ranked No. 10, their only guarantee of post-season play is to win it.

“It’s so difficult in Division III,” Huffman said. “There’s a lot of pressure in the conference tournament.”

Zondor relishes the challenge.

“We’re determined to get it done and think we can do some damage,” she said.

Contact John Mutka by e-mail at jandgmutka@peoplepc.com.