Happy "Field Trip Day" Courtesy of Quigley and Hampton
12/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO - There were nearly 2,000 school children clad in blue DePaul T-shirts clapping their hands, stomping their feet and anxiously awaiting any chance to raise the decibel level at Mc Grath Arena on Friday.
Sam Quigley and Keisha Hampton gave the kids plenty to scream about in leading the Blue Demons to a 67-56 victory over intra-city rival Illinois-Chicago.
Quigley had 21 points, five rebounds and four assists while Hampton came away with 16 points and eight rebounds.
"If there was ever a day when we needed a crowd like that, it was today," said DePaul women's basketball coach Doug Bruno about the 'Field Trip Day' audience that totaled 3,105. "I want to thank Jeanne (Athletics Director Jean Lenti Ponsetto) and everyone else who helped put on this event. To hear all that yelling and screaming for us really helped."
This is the fourth consecutive year DePaul has provided free tickets, free bus transportation, T-shirts and a campus visit to grammar-school students from throughout the Chicago area.
The unabashed partisan screaming was just what the Blue Demons needed to hear after a tough 79-68 loss at Green Bay less than 48 hours earlier.
No. 21/23 DePaul is now 6-2 while UIC is 1-6, but Bruno had warned his players about the intensity of this rivalry game.
"Rivalry games are more difficult than what the RPI says it should be," Bruno said. "That's why some teams refuse to play these kinds of games.
"For UIC, this was their Super Bowl."
That was reflected in a first half that saw the Flames battle back to trail just 31-29 at intermission. Leading the way was Jasmine Bailey who finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, six steals, four assists and three blocks. The Blue Demons held Jessie Miller to three points in the first half, although she wound up leading her team with 19.
Two big runs in the second half enabled DePaul to establish a comfortable lead. Hampton scored a quick seven points in the Blue Demons' 13-2 burst at the outset of the second half. After UIC responded with eight unanswered points, DePaul took off on a decisive 14-4 run to go ahead 57-43 with 9 minutes, 43 seconds left.
UIC never came any closer than seven after that.
"I have to come out like that every game," Hampton said about opening the game and the second half with seven-point bursts. "We fought hard, but it was a tough loss for us at Green Bay (on Wednesday night). It was important for us to come back home and get the win. It will build our confidence back up."
In addition to Quigley and Hampton's performances, Anna Martin had 12 points and five rebounds for DePaul while Felicia Chester contributed 10 points, five rebounds and three steals. The Blue Demons had a 45-31 advantage on the backboards.
Friday's game and Sunday's home game against Loyola precede a tough stretch where the Blue Demons will play six straight on the road.
The loss of top player Deirdre Naughton to a season-ending knee injury has brought about some adjustments for DePaul.
"I'm learning to gain confidence in other players," Quigley said. "Anna Martin and Jennifer Juergens have been a big help."
Bruno takes another perspective.
"We've got to develop an edge here," Bruno said. "We have to develop an identity."
DePaul returns to action on Sunday when it host Loyola-Chicago at 5 p.m. in Lincoln Park.
Notes: DePaul has won its last 55 non-conference home games against an unranked opponent... Sam Quigley led all players with a season-high 21 points... season-best 4-for-6 from behind the arc... DePaul had a season-best eight 3-pointers... 8-for-22, Quigley had four while Keisha Hampton and Anna Martin each had a pair of 3-pointers... Hampton grabbed a team-best eight rebounds... the sophomore now has 202 career rebounds... Quigley started her 44th consecutive game for DePaul... Anna Martin reached double-figures (12 points) for the fourth consecutive game... Martin has reach double-digits in five of DePaul's eight games... aDeanna Ortiz was 2-for-2 from the free throw line... she is the eighth Blue Demon to record a perfect percentage a the charity stripe... DePaul outscored UIC in the paint 32-24 and outrebounded the Flames 45-31... DePaul is now 36-5 against UIC... won the last 34 contests with the Flames... DePaul is now 121-31 all-time against schools from the Horizon League.