Blue Demons Top UNLV, Win Duel in the Desert
12/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
LAS VEGAS - DePaul won the Duel in the Desert with an 82-48 win over UNLV on Monday at Cox Pavilion.
Sam Quigley was named the tournament's MVP after scoring 43 points during the three-day tournament while Anna Martin joined her on the All-Tournament team.
Against the Rebels, Martin paced five Blue Demons in double-digits with 18 points and Quigley followed with 17. Katherine Harry registered 12, while Felicia Chester and Jennifer Juergens rounded out the double-figure scoring with 10 each.
Harry led the Blue Demons and tied a career-high with 18 rebounds for her second career double-double.
Martin and Quigley propelled the Blue Demons in the first half. Tied at 19 and with 8:25 on the clock, the guard duo scored 14 of DePaul's last 19 points half. Harry made it a trio as she scored the remaining four points and the Blue Demons went to the locker room with a 37-24 advantage.
The trio picked up where it left off and opened the second half on a 13-5 run. Harry scored the first basket of the half while Quigley hit back-to-back shots before Martin hit a three, a breakaway layup and 10 foot jumper to give DePaul a 50-29 lead with 14:30 left to play.
With DePaul using a balanced attack, seven different Blue Demons scored in the final 14 plus minutes of action.
UNLV was led by Erica Helms, 16 points - 11 of which came in the second half.
The Blue Demons shot a season-high .515 from the field while 21 of their 35 baskets came with assists. Quigley tied a career-high with seven assists while Keisha Hampton, Taylor Pikes, Jennifer Juergens, Deanna Ortiz, Chester and Harry all dished out a pair of assists.
The Blue Demons return to action at Illinois State on Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.
Notes: DePaul has won its has three games... the Blue Demons scored 80 points for the fourth time this season and are 101-6 when they reach the 80-point mark... the Blue Demons won their second tournament of the season - previously won DePaul's Maggie Dixon Classic in November... with eight points, Keisha Hampton eclipsed the 500 point mark... Hampton now has 507 career points in 46 career games.... Sam Quigley started her 49th consecutive game... Quigley registered an assist in her last 42 games.