DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Villanova
Hampton Leads #14/21 DePaul Past Villanova
1/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Jan. 16, 2011
Box Score - #14/21 DePaul 64, Villanova 45 
VILLANOVA, Pa. - Off to its second best start in school history, the No. 14/21 DePaul women's basketball improved to 5-0 in BIG EAST Conference play with a 64-45 win over Villanova on Sunday at the Pavilion.
The Blue Demons improve to 17-2 for the second time in school history and the first since the 2005-06 season. DePaul's best start through 19 games was an 18-1 start to the 2003-04 season.
DePaul led from start to finish with Keisha Hampton leading three Blue Demons in double-figures. Hampton led all players with 20 points which is sixth time this season the junior has reached the 20 point mark. Katherine Harry followed with 14 points and Felicia Chester scored 13.
Hampton and Harry paced DePaul on the boards with seven while Taylor Pikes and Chester each grabbed six rebounds. The Blue Demons outrebounded Villanova 38-25 for the game.
The Blue Demons got off to a quick start behind 7-of-8 shooting in the opening seven minutes of action. Six different DePaul players scored as the Blue Demons raced out an early 16-5 advantage.
DePaul took a 21-5 lead on a Hampton 3-pointer with 10:18 to play in the first half. Villanova would pull within 10, with just under a minute to play, but Deirdre Naughton cut through traffic for bucket with three seconds left in the half to send DePaul to the locker room with a 33-21 advantage.
The Blue Demons shot 56 percent (15-for-27) from field in the first half, while seven different players scored.
DePaul sustained its double-digit lead throughout the second half, but Villanova (8-9, 0-4 BIG EAST) used four second stanza 3-pointers to keep itself in the game. A 3-pointer by Rachel Roberts with 9:11 to play would cut DePaul's lead to 50-40.
Following the Roberts 3-pointer, DePaul put together a 10-2 run and took its largest lead of the game 62-42 on a Harry jumper with just under three minutes to play.
Lindsay Kimmel led Villanova with 12 points while Laura Sweeny had seven rebounds.
Sunday's win is DePaul head coach Doug Bruno's 475th collegiate coaching victory. The Blue Demon head coach is 475-266 in 25 seasons at DePaul.
The Blue Demons, who are 5-0 in the BIG EAST for the first time since joining the conference in 2005-06, sit in a tie for first place Connecticut and Rutgers.
DePaul breaks from conference action to host New Jersey Tech on Thursday, Jan. 20. Tip at McGrath Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m., while tickets can be purchased through the DePaul ticket office or any Ticket Master location.
Notes: DePaul head coach Doug Bruno won his 475th collegiate victory....first time DePaul has opened BIG EAST Conference play 5-0 since joining the Conference in 2005-06... Connecticut (6-0) and Rutgers (4-0) are the only teams in the league to remain unbeaten in conference play... the last time DePaul started conference play with an unblemished record was in 2003-04 when it was a member of Conference USA... DePaul started league play 6-0 that season... DePaul has won 14 of its last 15 games... in that stretch, DePaul has defeated two top 25 teams -- Stanford and St. John's... Keisha Hampton led DePaul with 20 points... eclipsed the 20 point mark for the seventh time this season and 13th of her career... has reached double-figures in 16 of DePaul's 19 game... DePaul's 20 assists is the most Villanova has allowed this season... Sam Quigley led DePaul with five assists and Hampton finished with four... Katherine Harry led DePaul with three blocks... sixth time this season she has had three or more blocks... DePaul's six blocks is the most against Villanova this season...Lindsay Kimmel led Villanova in scoring for 10th time this season... finished with 12 points... Villanova made eight 3-pointers... entered the game averaging 8.2 trifectas per game... DePaul now leads the all-time series with Villanova 6-1... DePaul is now 2-1 in games play at the Pavilion... DePaul has won the last two meetings between the two programs.
