Blue Demons Grind Out Win Over Arkansas
12/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
LAS VEGAS – Maureen Mulchrone came off the bench to lead DePaul to a 46-45 win over Arkansas at the Duel in the Desert Tournament on Saturday at UNLV’s Cox Pavilion.
Mulchrone, who played 21 minutes, led the Blue Demons with a career-high 11 points and four rebounds.
DePaul (8-3) outrebounded Arkansas 49-33 behind the aggressiveness of freshman forward Katherine Harry, who started her first collegiate game and grabbed a team-high 10 boards. Keisha Hampton followed with nine and Felicia Chester finished with eight rebounds.
The game played like a see-saw as runs controlled the tempo and it came down to the final 12 minutes of play.
DePaul took a 24-22 lead to the locker room at the half, but Arkansas opened the second half on a 12-4 run and jumped out to a 34-28 advantage with 12:40 left in the game.
The Blue Demons battled as Mulchrone completed the three-point-play, Chester hit a layup and then drilled a pair of free throws to give DePaul a 35-34 advantage with 9:20 left to play.
C’eira Rickets, who finished with eight points, gave Arkansas (6-4) a 36-35 lead with a dribble drive layup. However, it was Mulchrone who answered with a 10-foot jumper to give the Blue Demons a 37-36 lead with 8:43 left to play.
The Blue Demons extended their lead to seven points as Hampton hit the front end of a one-and-one with 23 seconds on the clock.
Arkansas’ Lyndsay Harris, who led all players with 23 points, hit two 3-pointers in the final 16 second of play to give the Razorbacks their final points.
Today was DePaul head coach Doug Bruno's 700th career game on the Blue Demon bench. Bruno has ammassed a 455-255 record in 24 seasons in Lincoln Park.
The Blue Demons advance and play No. 10/6 Florida State on Sunday at 5 p.m. (PST).
Notes: DePaul coach Doug Bruno coached his 700th career game at DePaul... Katherine Harry got her first collegiate start… DePaul was held without a 3-pointer for the second time this season… Blue Demons were 0-for-11 from behind the arc for the game… Maureen Mulchrone had a career-high 11 points and four rebounds… DePaul outrebounded Arkansas 49-33… Keisha Hampton led DePaul with five assists and two blocks… Sam Quigley eclipsed the 200 rebound mark with four rebounds... Quigley has 202 career boards... DePaul is now 2-1 all-time against Arkansas and 14-43 against schools from the SEC.