DePaul University Athletics
Naughton's 26 Points Lead DePaul Over Illinois State
11/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO The DePaul women’s basketball team led wire to wire for an 80-68 win over visiting Illinois State on Friday night. With the win, the Blue Demons run their streak to 31 straight wins over programs from the state of Illinois. Deirdre Naughton led four players in double-figures with 26 points including a 16-for-16 effort from the free throw line.
A three-pointer and a jumper by Keisha Hampton started the scoring for DePaul as the Blue Demons quickly took a 9-1 lead. Maggie Krick’s three-pointer ended the game-opening run before another bucket by Hampton gave the home team a 17-8 advantage less than six minutes into the action.
DePaul gradually increased the advantage to 18 points on two first-half occasions on a three-pointer by Sam Quigley and a jumper by Erin Cattell. The Redbirds outscored the Blue Demons, 14-8, over the remainder of the half for a 42-30 DePaul lead at intermission.
Illinois State (2-3) hit the first three baskets of the second half with Krick’s second and third three-pointers of game cutting DePaul’s lead to just four points at 42-38 with 17:39 left in the game.
DePaul (5-1) responded with buckets by Felicia Chester and Naughton to push the lead back to eight points and held the advantage between six and nine points over the next 10 minutes.
A Naughton lay-up with 2:24 left in the game pushed DePaul’s advantage to 13 points at 71-58.
Naughton’s effort from the line marked just the second time in DePaul history that a player made at least 13 free throws without a miss. She is the 10th player in school history to go at least 10-for-10 from the line in a game with Sally Anderson holding the record with a 17-for-17 effort against Wisconsin on Dec. 11, 1986.
In addition to the 26 points, Naughton also collected seven assists and grabbed six rebounds. Hampton totaled a dozen points to go along with seven boards while Cattell and Natasha Williams totaled 11 each. Williams just missed a double-double with nine rebounds.
Krick led Illinois State with 24 points and seven rebounds while Kristi Cirone flirted with a triple-double by totaling 20 points, nine assists and eight boards.
DePaul hits the road for a Sunday afternoon game at Tennessee. The Blue Demons and Lady Vols tip-off at 3 p.m. ET and the game can be heard live at www.depaulbluedemons.com.