DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Rutgers
Hampton Leads #10/11 DePaul Past Rutgers
2/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Feb. 15, 2011
Bluetube - Highlights | Postgame Interview
Photo Gallery 
| Box Score 
| Postgame Notes
CHICAGO (AP) -- Even as No. 10/11 DePaul opened a 19-point lead on Rutgers, Blue Demons coach Doug Bruno still feared a rocky ride was ahead.
The Scarlet Knights climbed out of a deep hole in the second half and rallied to within two points late in the game before the Blue Demons locked down a 66-62 BIG EAST Conference victory Tuesday night at McGrath Arena. The win was the Blue Demons 17th straight on their home floor.
"We've made a habit this year of having big leads and not staying with the same focus that got us the leads," Bruno said. "Tonight I don't think it was as much us losing focus as it was that Rutgers is really good and is just too talented not to fight when their backs are against the wall."
Keisha Hampton scored 22 points, including five 3-pointers, while Sam Quigley added 14 for the Blue Demons (24-3, 11-1 BIG EAST), who hit 10 3-pointers in the game.
They made six of their first seven from behind the arc to open an 18-5 lead and never trailed the Scarlet Knights (14-11, 7-5 BIG EAST).
Rutgers was down 16 at the half, but cut its deficit to two late in the game before DePaul held on.
April Sykes scored 15 points while Chelsey Lee and Khadijah Rushdan each had 13 for the Scarlet Knights.
Anna Martin, Hampton and Quigley each had a pair of 3-pointers in DePaul's early run as the teams combined for eight 3's in the game's opening 6:19.
Hampton's second 3-pointer at 16:06 pushed the Blue Demon advantage to 15-3 and the lead never dipped under double digits in the first half.
Rutgers hit nine field goals in the first half while DePaul was 16-of-29, including nine 3s.
In the second half, the Scarlet Knights scored 11 straight points over a 4:10 span to cut the deficit to 50-45 -- the run included back-to-back baskets by Lee and a 3-pointer by Sykes.
"We came out lackadaisical, stunned," Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer said. "We needed to identify the people who needed to be challenged above the three-point line and obviously we didn't and the next thing you know, you're down by 19."
The Scarlet Knights' started to shut down DePaul's 3-point shooting late in the first half and during the second 20 minutes, the Blue Demons hit just one.
"We just needed to shake things up, change the defense and pick up shooters much tighter," Stringer said.
Rutgers twice got to within two points, the last time with 5:40 to play on Rushdan's two free throws. But DePaul pushed the lead back to 61-53 on Taylor Pikes' layup with 1:17 left.
DePaul was 5-of-8 from the free throw in the final 1:04 to seal its victory.
The Blue Demons return to action on Sunday and host No. 18/18 Georgetown -- the fourth ranked team to visit McGrath Arena this season. ESPNU will carry the game with the tip scheduled for 4:30 p.m. (CST) in Lincoln Park.
Notes: DePaul's 24-3 overall record is a program-best thru 27 games... the previous best was the 1978-79 team's final record of 23-4… DePaul's 11-1 BIG EAST record is its best start thru 12 games since the Blue Demons joined the BIG EAST in 2005-06... thru 12 games, DePaul was also 11-1 in 1995-96 and again in 2004-05 when it was a member of Conference USA... both those teams finished their seasons with a 13-1 league record and in first place in C-USA… DePaul has won its last 17 games at McGrath Arena dating back to its Feb. 23, 2010 win over Pittsburgh... DePaul is 15-0 this season on its home court and improves to 133-21 (.864) all-time at McGrath Arena... during DePaul's 17-game winning streak, the Blue Demons' average margin of victory is 19.8… DePaul has won 11 of its last 12 games... loss was at No. 2/2 Connecticut on Feb. 5… DePaul hit 10 3-pointers... recorded 10 or more -3-pointers in its last three games and in four of its last six games... DePaul is 7-0 when making 10 or more 3-pointers this season… Keisha Hampton led DePaul with 22 points... seventh 20+ point performance of the season and 14th of her career... 5-of-11 from 3-point range was career-high in 3-pointers and attempts… DePaul had 22 assists... 14th time this season DePaul has recorded 20 or more assists... Hampton led DePaul with a career-best seven assist... Taylor Pikes followed with four and Katherine Harry and Anna Martin each had three… Hampton had three of DePaul's seven blocks... Harry had two and has now had at least on block in all of DePaul's BIG EAST games... Harry now has 49 blocks this season which ranks seventh in DePaul's single-season… Pikes led DePaul in rebounding for the 11th time this season... she had seven board… Rutgers has lost its last two games, both have been on the road… RU outscored DePaul 37-25 in the second half… Chelsey Lee led Rutgers with six rebounds... Rutgers outrebounded, DePaul 35-29… Rutgers still leads the all-time series 4-3... all three of DePaul's wins have come at McGrath Arena.
