DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Wins Overtime Thriller at Illinois State
12/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Sam Quigley tied a career-high with 23 points and played all 45 minutes as the DePaul women's basketball team topped Illinois State 63-61 in overtime, on Monday at Redbird Arena.
Quigley, who was 3-for-3 from behind the arc, hit all of her 3-pointers in the second half which kept Illinois State (6-4) chasing the Blue Demon lead.
DePaul (11-3) took a 36-29 advantage at the half and was up by as many as nine points in the second half, but Illinois State (6-4) kept chipping away at the Blue Demon lead.
With 11:59 left in regulation, Emily Hanley hit a pair of free throws which pulled the Redbirds within one, 45-44; however Illinois State would miss its next six shots and leave DePaul's advantage intact.
As ISU went cold, so did the Blue Demons before Quigley answered with an emotional 3-pointer from the left side which ended a 5:40 scoring draught and gave DePaul a 48-44 lead with 9:03 left to play.
In the last nine minutes, the teams traded trips down the floor before Keisha Hampton hit a jumper to put the Blue Demons up 59-54 with 71 ticks on the clocks.
ISU's Ashleen Bracey knocked down a 3-pointer with 51 seconds and Nicolle Lewis' putback as time expired sent the game into overtime.
Anna Martin, who finished with 17 points, knocked down the first basket in the extra period and Quigley put DePaul up 63-59 with a layup and 2:31 on clock.
The final 2:30 was highlighted with DePaul's tenacious defense which halted ISU's comeback attempts as the Redbirds were 0-6 from the field in overtime.
Lewis, who led ISU with 15 points, scored the Redbirds only points in overtime -- a pair of free throws.
Hampton finished with 16 points and a team-high 11 rebounds for her fifth career double-double.
The Blue Demons put their four-game winning streak on the line when they return to the court in 2010 and open BIG EAST Conference play at Rutgers on Jan. 2. The matinee tips at 1 p.m. (CST).
Notes: DePaul is now 9-15 all-time in overtime games... won its last three overtime games dating back to the 2007-08 season... DePaul has won its last four games... Anna Martin and Sam Quigley have both reached double-figures in their last three games... Quigley started her 50 games and has had an assist in her last 43 games... with one steal, Felicia Chester forced her 100th career take away... DePaul is now 7-3 all-time against Illinois State and has won the last four meetings... DePaul is now 36-10 against school's from the Missouri Valley Conference.