DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Hold Off Ramblers
12/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO Clutch baskets by Deirdre Naughton and a stingy defense late in the game allowed DePaul to hold off Loyola, 68-64, at the Gentile Center on Sunday. Naughton finished the game with 27 points while Felicia Chester provided a blocked shot and Natasha Williams stole an inbounds pass in the final minutes to preserve the Blue Demon victory. With the win, DePaul runs its streak to 33 straight wins over opponents from Illinois.
The game played even from the start as a pair of seven-point runs by each team saw the score at 7-7 early in the action. The game would be tied three more times over the remainder of the first half with the Blue Demons holding a lead as large as seven points.
A basket by Chester gave the visitors a 25-14 advantage before Loyola (4-3) outscored DePaul, 15-9, over the final seven minutes of the first half. A three-pointer by Jessica Hylton followed by a shot off the glass from Shannon Finnegan gave the Ramblers their first lead at 32-30 with just over a minute left. Naughton put DePaul back ahead on the Blue Demons’ final possession for a 33-32 advantage at halftime.
Coming out of intermission, the Blue Demons looked to pull away as they built a 47-41 lead behind eight points from Natasha Williams. However, Loyola answered with a 15-3 run and took a 56-50 advantage with just over eight minutes left on a three-pointer from Keisha Collins.
Following two Naughton free throws, Loyola’s Lisa Samplawksi was fouled as the shot clock expired. Her shot banked in and she knocked down the ensuing free throw to give the Ramblers their largest lead at 59-52 with 6:47 left.
A Naughton lay-up followed by a Williams jumper started a 9-0 run for DePaul that ended with a 15-footer from Naughton for a two-point DePaul lead. On Loyola’s next possession, Brittany Boeke tied the game for the eighth time at 61-61 with 3:27 on the clock.
Following Boeke’s basket the DePaul defense turned up the screws and held the Ramblers scoreless until a three-pointer by Maggie McCloskey with three seconds remaining. During the final 3:27, the Blue Demons used free throws by Naughton, Chester and Sam Quigley for the 68-64 final.
Naughton led all scorers with 27 points and added five assists. Williams totaled 15 points, six boards and two steals while Chester grabbed nine rebounds to go along with three points and two blocked shots.
McCloskey led Loyola with 17 points and six assists.
DePaul (7-2) goes on the road to Missouri State for a Wednesday night game with the Lady Bears. The start time is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. in Springfield, Mo.
