DePaul University
Xavier
Blue Demons Cruise Past Xavier 84-61 on Sunday
1/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
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| Box Score: DePaul 84, Xavier 61 
CHICAGO - DePaul set a strong defensive tone early and then let its offense take over the game Sunday at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
Coming off consecutive 100-point games for the first time since 2003, the Blue Demons played harassing defense in an 84-61 BIG EAST Conference victory over Xavier.
DePaul (12-5, 4-1 BIG EAST) had scored 206 points in the last two outings and came into Sunday's game leading the nation in scoring at 90.4 points per game.
On Sunday, the Demons forced 29 Xavier turnovers that included 20 steals.
Jessica January led a balanced scoring attack with 20 points while adding a career-high seven assists. Chanise Jenkins had 16 points and five steals while Brittany Hrynko finished with 14 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals. Off the bench, Brooke Schulte contributed 13 points and five boards.
"It's safe to say our defense is clicking," Jenkins said. "We missed a couple of layups early, and when coach (Doug Bruno) got on us---that fired up our pressure defense. Our players were shooting the gaps and playing the passing lanes to come up with a lot of steals."
The Blue Demons were coming off a 101-67 blowout of Marquette Friday in Milwaukee in which their bench scored 44 points led by Mart'e Grays' 14 and 11 from Schulte. Five days earlier, they had taken down Georgetown 105-85. The other time DePaul has scored 100 or better in back-to-back games was in 1996.
The Blue Demons went on a 15-3 run early in the second half to take a 52-26 lead. Hrynko, Jenkins and January each scored a pair of baskets and Schulte hit a three-pointer. A Centrese McGee layup off a nice feed from Brandi Harvey-Carr (eight points, eight rebounds) pushed the lead to 28 points.
"I was impressed with all the energy our players brought to the game and they sustained it throughout," Bruno said. "Chanise, Jessica, Brooke, Mart'e, Brittany, Brandi all picked the team up.
"I was also impressed with the way our team came out at the beginning of the second half going on a 15-3 run. That was a nice, positive boost."
DePaul scored the first 12 points in this afternoon matinee with Hrynko and January each hitting from beyond the arc. The Blue Demons forced eight turnovers in less than five minutes, four of them on steals.
Xavier (11-5, 3-3) didn't score its first point until the 15:53 mark of the first half.
A Jenkins three-point play in the middle of the first half gave DePaul a 19-8 lead. At that point, Bruno's club had forced 11 turnovers including six steals. Jenkins scored back-to-back including one basket off a steal for 24-10 advantage.
Schulte's rebound basket culminated a 10-2 run in providing a 29-12 lead. At the final media timeout of the first half, DePaul had held the Musketeers to 14 points.
"I missed a couple of shots early, but our defense was getting steals and forcing turnovers that helped me get into the flow of the game," January said. "I was able to score in the post, and the pressure that opened up our offense allowed me to find my teammates for assists."
Bruno appreciated January's adjustment during the game.
"What makes Jess a great player is her versatility," Bruno said. "When her outside shot wasn't falling, she continued to attack the basket and get to the free throw line. She did a good job in the second half."
The Blue Demons led 37-21 at halftime, limiting Xavier to 33 percent shooting over the first 20 minutes. DePaul had forced 18 turnovers that included 11 steals. The closest the Musketeers came in the second half was 14 points.
DePaul returns to action on Friday with a key BIG EAST game at St. John's that tips off at 10:30 a.m. (CT) on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
NOTES: This was the ninth meeting between the two programs all-time... DePaul owns an 8-1 advantage in the series and have won the last eight matchups... DePaul held Xavier to a season-low 21 points in the first half... with 20 thefts, the Blue Demons have eclipsed the 20-steal plateau for the fourth time this season... January set a new career-high with seven assists... January reached double figures for the 13th time this season and fifth-straight in BIG EAST play... with 13 points, Schulte has reached double figures in back-to-back games for the first time in her career... DePaul moved to 12-4 when four or more reach 10-plus points... this was the second-straight game where every available DePaul player has played.
