DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Falls in Title Game
11/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. A driving lay-up by New Mexico’s Amy Beggin was the difference-maker as the Blue Demons dropped a 68-66 decision to New Mexico in the championship game of the Basketball Travelers Tip-Off Classic on Monday night. DePaul led by as many as a dozen points with Deirdre Naughton dropping in 31 points with six three-pointers.
Following an offensive foul by the Blue Demons with just over 10 seconds left in regulation, Beggin took the inbounds pass and was able to slice her way through a pair of DePaul defenders. Her scoop shot in the lane with three seconds left found its way to the rim and fell through for the game-deciding bucket.
Naughton led the Blue Demons to an early 12-4 lead with a pair of three-pointers that sandwiched a jumper off the glass. The DePaul defense was active as well as they held the Lobos without a field goal over the first four minutes of action.
The Blue Demons led by as many as 12 points with four minutes until intermission before the Lobos scored 13 of the final 15 points of the first half. Jessica Kielpinski hit a three-pointer with the clock winding down to make the score 38-37 at halftime in favor of DePaul.
Within the first seven minutes of the second half, DePaul (2-1) increased its lead to nine points when Sam Quigley knocked down one of the nine Blue Demon three-pointers.
New Mexico (3-0) whittled the lead away and cut it to one at 60-59 on a jumper by Angela Hartill with just under five minutes on the clock. On the next Lobo possession, Sara Halasz gave the home team their first lead since the opening minute with a three-pointer that sent the 7,000 fans into a frenzy.
Beggin put the Lobos up by four before Naughton drilled her fifth three-pointer of the night with 2:35 left in the game. Halasz hit two more free throws for a 66-63 advantage only to see Naughton silence the crowd once more with her career-best sixth three-pointer of the game and a 66-66 tie.
The final two minutes of the game saw just one basket as each team misfired on their two possessions. The tie was broken on New Mexico’s last trip down the floor with Naughton's desperation shot from half court coming up short of the rim.
Felicia Chester just missed her first career double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. She also added a team-high four steals while Quigley totaled 10 points and China Threatt added six assists. New Mexico was led by Hartill's 17 points and Beggin's 11 and eight rebounds.
Naughton and Keisha Hampton were named to the All-Tournament team while Hartill was picked as the MVP. Beggin was also named to the All-Tournament team and was joined by Alcorn State's Brittany Myatt and Idaho State's Oana Iacovita.
DePaul opens the home schedule Friday night against Southern in the second game of the DePaul Invitaitonal. Duke and Hartford open the action at McGrath Arena at 5:30 followed by the Blue Demons and Jaguars. The winners of Friday’s games play for the championship Saturday night after the 5:30 p.m. consolation game. For ticket information regarding two-day packages and group rates, call (773) 325-SLAM.
Game Notes: Deirdre Naughton passed 500 career points at DePaul... Naughton's six three-pointers are tied for seventh on the game chart (15th time)... DePaul is 2-1 to start the season for the second time in three years... the loss was just the 14th in 162 games since the start of the 2003-04 season that the Blue Demons lost when holding an opponent to less than 70 points... the meeting was the first between DePaul and New Mexico... DePaul is now 6-9 all-time against Mountain West programs.