Six In Double-Figures Lead DePaul Over Southern Illinois
12/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Boxscore
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The nation’s highest-scoring offense eclipsed the 100-point mark for the second straight game with a 102-57 win against Southern Illinois at the Allstate Arena. With the win, the club is off to their best start since going 9-0 to begin the 1985-86 season. Jenni Dant led six players in double-figures with 23 points while Khara Smith tallied her sixth double-double of the year with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
After falling behind, 2-1, the Blue Demons went on a 21-5 run and never looked back. Four players scored during the run led by Ashley Luke with a pair of three-pointers and 10 points. Jenni Dant added seven points as DePaul took a commanding 23-6 lead just six minutes into the game.
DePaul (8-0) went on to shoot .618 in the first half for a 56-26 lead at intermission. The 56 points marked sixth time this season that the Blue Demons have scored at least 50 points in half this season.
In the second half, the DePaul grew to as many as 47 points when Jarietta Benton’s free throw with 3:37 left gave the club a 100-53 advantage. The two teams traded baskets over the final two minutes for the 102-57 final.
Dant scored 23 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and a 9-of-10 mark from the free throw line. With the nine free shots, she moved into eighth on DePaul all-time free throws made list with 277 in her career.
Luke, Jenna Rubino and Charlene Smith each added 12 points while Claudette Towers chipped in 11. As a team, the Blue Demons turned the ball over just 10 times while forcing Southern Illinois (0-6) into 27 turnovers. DePaul outscored the Salukis, 44-9, in points off turnovers.
DePaul has won seven straight against teams from the state of Illinois and 21 of the last 22 contests.
The eight-game winning streak is the longest since a nine-game winning streak from Feb. 4 to Mar. 2, 1996.
The Blue Demons go for their ninth straight win on Wednesday against Tennessee at the DePaul Athletic Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Lincoln Park. A limited number of tickets are still available by calling the DePaul ticket office at (773) 325-SLAM.