DePaul University Athletics
Women's Basketball Rolls Over Loyola
12/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Boxscore
CHICAGO – DePaul opened with a 25-0 run and never looked back as they defeated Loyola, 87-59, on Friday night in the first round of the Moran Realty Classic. The Blue Demons take on Montana State in the championship at 8 p.m. on Saturday night. The Bobcats advanced after knocking off Boston University, 74-65, in the first game of the tourney.
DePaul came out of the gates sizzling as Charlene Smith and Ashely Luke combined for the games first 20 points. Luke started the night with back-to-back three’s before Charlene Smith ran off seven consecutive points. Luke finished the half with 15 points on five treys.
After a free throw and lay-up by Khara Smith, Loyola’s Ciara Henderson got the Ramblers on the board at 11:25 with a three-pointer. Charlene Smith struck again with a three-point play make the score 28-3 on DePaul’s next possession. In the half, the sophomore scored 14 points on a perfect 6-for-6 from the field and 2-of-2 from the line.
As a team, the Blue Demons were 20-of-36 from the field in the first stanza and forced 16 Rambler turnovers to take a 51-21 lead at the intermission. Shiesha McCollum’s bucket with just under a minute left in the half gave DePaul their largest lead of the game at 51-17.
The second half saw DePaul hold at least a 28-point lead for the first 10 minutes. Loyola closed the gap to 24 points twice, but they would get no closer. DePaul was able to use their entire roster as 12 grabbed at least a rebound and 11 of the 12 scored.
Charlene Smith led three players in double-figures with 16 points while Luke and Khara Smith added 15. Khara Smith tallied her second double-double of the year with a game-high 12 rebounds. McCollum grabbed a career-high 11 boards in the first significant minutes of her collegiate career. As a team, DePaul outrebounded Loyola, 47-30. The Blue Demons took advantage of 19 Rambler turnovers and converted them to 26 points.
DePaul takes on Montana State in the championship game on Saturday at the DePaul Athletic Center. The Blue Demons and Bobcats follow the consolation game between Loyola and Boston that starts at 6 p.m.
