DePaul University Athletics
Blue Demons Knock Off No. 21 Rutgers
1/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO Down 53-54, DePaul’s China Threatt drained a go-ahead three with 48 seconds left to push the Blue Demons past No. 21/24 Rutgers, 60-58 Saturday in BIG EAST Conference action at McGrath Arena.
Following Threatt’s three; Epiphanny Prince went to the line and made the first of two free throws to pull Rutgers within one. Price missed her second and DePaul’s Deirdre Naughton grabbed the board and was immediately fouled. In the final 16 seconds Naughton made all four of her free throws and finished the game 5-for-6 from the charity stripe.
Keisha Hampton scored a team-high 18 points, while two other DePaul (15-5, 3-3 Big East) players were in double digits. Threatt came off the bench and added 15 while Naughton chipped in 10 points and five assists. Felicia Chester tied a career-high and led all players with 11 rebounds.
DePaul started the game with stingy and effective defense as the Blue Demons forced Rutgers (11-6, 3-3) to turn the ball over in its first four trips two shot clock violations and Sam Quigley had a pair of steals in the first 2:20.
DePaul’s Natasha Williams gave the Blue Demons their first points of the game by converting a three-point-play with 17:22 left in the half. Rutgers tied the game at five on Nikki Speed’s pull-up jumper.
Rutgers used a 4-0 run to take a 5-9 lead, its largest lead of half. The Blue Demons rebounded and answered with a 7-0 run for the third of seven lead changes in the half.
DePaul went up 28-24 on a pair of Hampton free throws with 1:34 left in the half; however the Scarlet Knights closed out the half with 5-2 run and took a 31-30 lead into the locker room.
The second half mirrored the first as there were nine lead changes as the two teams continued to battle.
The Blue Demons’ five point lead with six seconds left in the game was their largest of the evening.
Brittany Ray had a game-high 20 points for the Scarlet Knights while Prince added 15 points and five assists. Kia Vaughn was held scoreless for the first time this season; she grabbed a pair of rebounds.
The Blue Demons return to action at St. John’s on Tuesday, Jan. 27. The Blue Demons and Red Storm tangle at 6 p.m. (CST)
Notes: Keisha Hampton led DePaul with 18 points on the night... it is the 13th time this season she has scored in double-digits... Hampton also tied her career-high or free throws made and attempted (7-for-8), previously went 7-for-8 at Missouri State, Dec. 10, 2008... Felicia Chester tied her career high with 11 rebounds... she grabbed 11 boards against Loyola-Chicago on Dec. 20, 2006... DePaul committed less than 10 turnovers for the first time all season... the last time they accomplished the feat was at USF on Feb. 5, 2008... Tonight’s game marked the third time this season the Blue Demons were held to 60 points (vs. Northwestern - W, at Louisville - L)... Naughton has dished five or more assists in seven of her last nine games.
The Associated Press contributed to this release
