DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Illinois State
Penny and Martin Lead No. 21/21 DePaul Past Illinois State
12/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Dec. 19, 2011
Box Score: DePaul 73, Illinois State 54 
| Postgame Notes
NORMAL, Ill. - Jasmine Penny scored a career-high 20 points and sparked the No. 21/21 DePaul women's basketball team to a 73-54 win over Illinois State on Monday at Redbird Arena. The win was DePaul's third straight and the Blue Demons improve to 11-2 on season. The loss drops the Redbirds to 5-5 and was just their second home loss of the season.
Anna Martin also scored 20 points for the Blue Demons, who shot 48 percent from the field. Megan Rogowski added 11 points and hit a pair of key 3-pointers down the stretch for the Blue Demons. Penny's career-high came on 8-of-12 shooting and a perfect 4-for-4 effort from the free throw line. She also added two blocks and a steal.
DePaul set the tone early with its tenacious defense as the Redbirds were just 1-of-9 from the field to begin game. The Blue Demons exploited ISU's early struggles and jumped out to an 8-2 advantage in the first 4:10 of the contest.
With ISU struggling, Martin and Penny combined for DePaul's first 10 points before Rogowski and Katherine Harry joined the Blue Demons scoring burst which led to a 17-13 lead with 7:03 left in the half.
Over the next 1:44, a 3-pointer by Deanna Ortiz, a Martin layup and a pair of free throws from Maureen Mulchrone sparked a 7-0 Blue Demon run and the team's first double-digit advantage of the game.
ISU got within eight, 24-16 on a three pointer from Katie Broadway. The two teams traded baskets before a 3-pointer from Brittany Hrynko pushed DePaul's lead back to double-figures, 29-17 with just over four minutes to play in the half.
The Blue Demons went to the locker room up 36-22 behind 10 points from Martin.
DePaul pushed its lead to 42-27 before the Redbirds put together a 12-2 run which pulled ISU within five, 44-39 with 14:03 to play.
Martin answered with a layup and Rogowski hit back-to-back 3-pointers to spark an 8-0 run which pushed the Blue Demons to a 52-39 advantage with 13:20 left in the contest.
DePaul did not let its lead dip below eight the rest of the way. The Blue Demons' largest lead, 73-52 came with 2:01 to play when Martin completed the three-point-play.
Marley Hall led ISU with 16 points. Candace Sykes tallied 10 and Broadway finished with 11.
Harry led DePaul with eight rebounds and also dished out three assists. Martin paced DePaul for the fourth straight game in assists - the junior finished four assists and just one turnover.
The Blue Demons return to Lincoln Park and host Southern Illinois before breaking for the Christmas Holiday. DePaul and the Salukis tip at 7 p.m. at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
Tickets for all DePaul women's games can be purchased at any Ticketmaster location or at the DePaul Athletic Ticket Office located in the Sullivan Athletic Center or by calling (773) 325-SLAM.
Notes: Notes: DePaul used its sixth starting lineup of the season - Anna Martin, Brittany Hrynko, Deanna Ortiz, Katherine Harry and Jasmine Penny… the Blue Demons outscored ISU in the paint 34-24… head coach Doug Bruno tallied his 538th career coaching victory and 498th at the collegiate level… DePaul held Illinois State to just 30 percent (29-59) from the field… forced 16 ISU turnovers on eight steals… DePaul won its 13th straight over programs from the State of Illinois… DePaul is 3-0 this season against team's from the State of Illinois and will play Southern Illinois (Dec. 22) and Northern Illinois (Dec. 31) still this season… DePaul now leads the all-time series with Illinois State 9-3 and has won the last six meetings… DePaul is now 4-2 in games played at Redbird Arena.
