DePaul University Athletics
Four in Double-Figures Lead DePaul Over Southern
11/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO Deirdre Naughton led four players in double-figures as DePaul knocked off Southern, 86-54, in the first round of the DePaul Invitational. The Blue Demons advance to the championship game to face the Hartford Hawks while Southern faces Duke in the consolation game.
Southern (1-2) cut DePaul’s lead to just four points midway through the first half before the Blue Demons opened up the game with a decisive run. The home team scored 21 of the next 23 points over the final 9:38 of the period and when the dust settled, DePaul went into intermission with a 43-18 lead.
DePaul gradually built the lead and took a 20-point advantage on two free throws by Rachel Pierson with just over two minutes left in the half. The Blue Demons were efficient in the first stanza as they combined for a .485 field goal percentage and 14 assists on 16 field goals.
The DePaul advantage hit 30 points within five minutes into the second half before back-to-back three’s by Courtney Webb and Deanna Ortiz gave the Blue Demons their largest lead of the night at 86-51 in the final minutes.
Naughton totaled 15 points, five assist and three steals while Keisha Hampton added 11 points, four boards and four steals. Erin Cattell and Rachel Pierson added 10 points and four rebounds each.
Southern was led by Tenesha Brown’s 11 points.
DePaul (3-1) takes on Hartford in the championship game Saturday night. Southern faces Duke in the consolation game at 5:30 p.m. All of the action takes place at McGrath Arena on DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus.
In the first game, Hartford pulled off the upset over #6/5 (AP/Coaches) Duke by a score of 53-51. The Hawks led throughout the evening, but the Blue Devils closed it to 52-51 with 18 seconds left. MaryLynne Schaefer knocked down one of two free throws with 6.5 seconds left and the Blue Devils were unable to find the basket on their final possession.
Game Notes: DePaul increased its streak to 110 games in-a-row with a three-pointer... the Blue Demons have won nine straight home openers... the win improved DePaul’s record at McGrath Arena to 94-17 (.847) all-time... Friday was the first meeting between the two programs... the Blue Demons are now 4-0 all-time against teams from the SWAC.