DePaul University
South Dakota State
Podkowa Leads Blue Demons To Fourth Straight Win
11/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO - Eight straight points to start the game by Megan Podkowa set the tone for the evening as DePaul won its fourth straight game by a score of 84-62. The Blue Demons forced 34 turnovers and converted those to 39 points while Podkowa finished the night with 24 points, six rebounds, six steals and five blocked shots.
Podkowa scored first eight points of the game before back-to-back three's and another basket from South Dakota State tied the game with 16:06 left in the first half.
No. 18/20 DePaul (4-1) answered with a 10-0 run behind buckets from Brittany Hrynko, Podkowa and Brooke Schulte. The lead grew as high as 12 points at 33-21 on a Hrynko layup with just over four minutes left in the opening half. The Blue Demons took a 39-29 lead into intermission.
South Dakota State (1-2) pulled to within single-digits on a three-pointer by Megan Waytashek less than two minutes into the second half. The Blue Demons answered and put the game away with a 14-4 run over the next four minutes. Back-to-back layups by Centrese McGee capped the run to give DePaul a 57-38 lead with 13:47 on the clock.
The Blue Demons steadily increased the advantage and Mart'e Grays knocked down DePaul's eighth three-pointer of the night to push the advantage to 82-52 at the five-minute mark.
Podkowa went 11-for-15 from the field and led four Blue Demons in double-figures. Hrynko added 16 points and five assists while Jessica January and Megan Rogowski each scored 11 points.
South Dakota State was led by 26 points and seven rebounds from Waytashek.
Up next for the Blue Demons is a Saturday night game against Northwestern. Start time at McGrath-Phillips Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Postgame Notes: DePaul has forced 159 turnovers in five games this season... the 84 points snapped DePaul's streak at three games of 90 or more points... the Blue Demons are now 179-28 (.865) all-time at McGrath-Phillips Arena... DePaul has made a three-pointer in 165 consecutive games... Saturday was the first meeting between the two programs.
