DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Win Thriller Over Marquette
2/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Boxscore
CHICAGO – Charlene Smith’s jumper off the glass with just over a second left in the game led the DePaul Blue Demons over the visiting Marquette Golden Eagles, 61-59, on Sunday afternoon. In front of a standing room only crowd at the DePaul Athletic Center, the Blue Demons came back from a eight-point second-half deficit for their 20th win of the season.
All five starters hit a bucket as DePaul (20-2, 8-1 C-USA) jumped to an 11-4 lead. The Golden Eagles didn’t back down as Kelly Schwerman nailed a three-pointer to put Marquette ahead, 15-14, with just over nine minutes left in the first half.
Jenni Dant’s three-pointer boosted the DePaul advantage to 22-18 before back-to-back jumpers by Marquette knotted the score at 22-22. The two teams traded baskets over the final three minutes of first stanza before the Blue Demons went up 27-26 at halftime.
Marquette (16-6, 6-3 C-USA) went ahead on a layup by Katie O’Grady with 13:34 left in the game. The Golden Eagles built an eight-point advantage over the next five minutes. DePaul went on an 8-1 run to close the deficit to 47-48 on a jumper by Ashley Luke.
The Golden Eagles answered and pushed the advantage back to five points at 55-50 with 3:28 left in the game. DePaul reeled off five straight points and tied the game at 55 on a turnaround jumper by Khara Smith with just over two minutes remaining.
Another jumper by Khara Smith on DePaul’s next possession gave the Blue Demons their first lead since early in the second half. Charlene Smith put the Blue Demons up by four with 35 seconds left before Marquette’s Christina Quaye and Carolyn Kieger hit back-to-back layups to tie the game with 13 seconds remaining.
Following a Marquette timeout, Charlene Smith took the ball at the top of the key and drove to the left side of the free throw lane. Her five-footer off the glass with just over a second left put the Blue Demons up for good at 61-59.
Kieger's desperation three-point attempt was wide left and the Blue Demons won their 20th game of the season. For DePaul, it marks their 13th season of at least 20 wins.
Charlene Smith led four players in double-figures with 17 points. For the second straight game, Khara Smith and Ashley Luke posted double-doubles. Smith tallied 15 points and 15 rebounds while Luke added 16 points and 10 assists. Dant chipped in 11 points with five boards and three steals.
Quaye led Marquette with 16 points while Schwerman added 12 points.
DePaul plays their final two home games next weekend against Saint Louis on Friday night and Memphis on Sunday afternoon. The Blue Demons are tied for first place with Houston at 8-1 in Conference USA play.
