DePaul University Athletics
Natasha Williams' Career-High 29 Points Fuels DePaul Past UIC
12/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO DePaul senior forward Natasha Williams recorded a career-high 29 points in the Blue Demons 90-67 win over UIC, Monday at the UIC Pavilion. The Blue Demons have won their last six and improve to 11-2 on the season, while UIC has lost its last three and fall to 5-3.
Leading the entire way, Deirdre Naughton (17), Keisha Hampton (13) and Felicia Chester (10) joined Williams in double-digits as the Blue Demons shot 44 percent for the game including a 9-for-25 effort from behind the arc.
In the first eight minutes, DePaul settled into its offense and opened up 23-2 lead. Fueled 4-for-8 shooting from behind the arc, Naughton drained a pair trifectas, while Sam Quigley and Erin Cattell also got into the action.
With just over 11 minutes left in the first half, Kristin Petrinec’s jumper gave UIC its second basket of the game. Over the next 1:34 the Blue Demons built a 24 point advantage, their largest lead of the game. With 9:45 left in the half Deanna Ortiz converted her first of two 3-pointers for a 30-6 lead.
The Flames answered over the next six minutes as UIC found its offense and used a 20-10 run to cut DePaul’s lead to 14 points. The Blue Demons closed out the half on a 9-4 run and headed to the locker room with a 49-30 lead.
UIC opened the second half with a 19-9 run which cut the Blue Demons lead to nine points with 11:47 left in the game. Williams put the Blue Demons on her back and scored six of DePaul’s next nine points. After converting a three-point-play, Williams and the Blue Demons took a comfortable 68-53 advantage with 9:10 left to play.
DePaul never saw its lead fall into the singles digits again.
Jessie Miller led UIC with 26 points which included a 10-for-15 showing from the charity strip. Jasmine Bailey added 16 points for the Flames.
Williams made her presence felt in the paint as she added 11 rebounds five of which were offensive for her seventh career double-double. The Blue Demons outscored the Flames in the paint 40-28.
With the win, DePaul has won its last 36 games against opponents from the state of Illinois.
After celebrating the Holidays the Blue Demons return to the court on Monday, Jan. 29 when they host Green Bay. Monday’s tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at McGrath Arena.
Notes: The Blue Demons have won their last 36 games against opponents from the State of Illinois... DePaul has won 50 of the last 51 and 57 of the last 59 games against Illinois programs... DePaul has connected on a 3-pointer in its last 119 games... Coach Doug Bruno has won 425 games as DePaul’s head coach... the Blue Demons have held 10 of their 13 opponents this season to less than 70 points... second time this season DePaul has scored 90 or more points... DePaul has won its last six games, its first six-game winning streak of the season... it is the seventh time this season DePaul has had four players in double-figures... DePaul is now 6-1 when four players reach double-digits... since the 2003-04 season, the Blue Demons are 95-14, when holding opponents to under 70 points... in the same span, DePaul is 42-1, including 40 straight wins when scoring at least 90 points... in that same span, DePaul has scored at least 80 points in 99 games, the team is 94-5 in those games... DePaul now leads the overall series with UIC 35-5.