DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Creighton
Hrynko's 27 Points Lead DePaul Past Creighton 96-71
1/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO - This was all about an appropriate response on Friday night, the ideal comeback to DePaul's previous BIG EAST Conference outing.
And that's precisely what the Blue Demons administered with a 96-71 victory over Creighton in front of an enthusiastic and vibrant McGrath-Phillips Arena crowd and a FOX Sports 1 television audience.
DePaul improves to 14-6 on the season, 6-2 in the BIG EAST. Creighton falls to 9-10, 2-6.
Brittany Hrynko led the way for the winning team with a game-high 27 points. Chanise Jenkins finished with 16 points, five assists and four rebounds. Megan Podkowa came away with 10 points and nine rebounds while Centrese McGee scored a season-high 10 points.
Marissa Janning led Creighton with 15 points.
"It was real important to get back on track after a tough night at Seton Hall last week," DePaul coach Doug Bruno said about a107-87 loss. "It was important to get that defensive energy and intensity.
"We maintained that intensity the first half and then came out and got it going in the second half."
Jessica January (nine points, six assists) came out smoking in the second half, scoring eight points in the first four minutes. A 15-3 Blue Demon burst provided a 67-36 lead at the first media timeout. Podkowa, January, Hrynko and Jenkins all hit from behind the arc.
Brooke Schulte's jumper made it 73-43. By that point, DePaul had made 11 of 21 shots from three-point land while Creighton had hit just 3 of 21 from distance. That's a 24-point differential right there. The Blue Demons finished 12 of 28 while the Bluejays were 4 of 19.
Hrynko did it on both ends of the court, holding Janning to just two points in the first half.
"I was mad about last week's loss," Hrynko said in explaining her blanketing of Janning. "Coach had told me my offense was fine but that on the defensive end I was just out there. I tried to show the effort on defense today."
Bruno expounded on his defensive strategy.
"If you play a fast offense and shoot quickly, and I want that, you have to play better defense," Bruno said. "Last week, we took the quick shot, missed and didn't guard anybody. That can lead to a blowout."
Creighton missed its first eight shots of the game as DePaul sprinted out to a 9-0 lead. Hrynko scored five points in that opening span. The Bluejays got on the scoreboard more than four minutes into the first half on a basket by Jade Owens. That ignited a 14-7 burst as Creighton pulled to within 16-14 midway through the opening stanza.
Back-to-back three-pointers by Hrynko and Lauren Prochaska restored an eight-point DePaul lead. A 6-0 Creighton burst brought the visiting team within 24-20 when McGee hit a three and Hrynko followed with a three-point play.
Creighton came up empty on its first 10 attempts from three-point range.
McGee certainly came to play, and the senior guard had a career-high 10 points with seven minutes left in the first half. A 10-2 DePaul run culminated by Hrynko's steal and layup made it 36-22.
Back to-back baskets by Brandi Harvey-Carr and Jenkins boosted the lead 41-26 with two minutes until halftime. That spurt enabled DePaul to close out the first half on a 12-2 run resulting in a 49-28 halftime lead.
Jenkins was asked about stepping up her game to help ease the loss of Megan Rogowski's season-ending injury.
"Kind of, sort of," Jenkins said. "But it really takes a group effort to replace what `Rogo' brought to our team. I don't think just one person can replace her."
In a backcourt battle of two of the best guards in the BIG EAST, Hrynko guarded Creighton star Janning and held her scoreless until the final minute of the first half. By that time, Hrynko had 18 points. Janning came into the game averaging 15.2 points per game.
It's a quick turnaround for DePaul with a 2 p.m. BIG EAST game Sunday against Providence at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
NOTES: This was the sixth meeting between the programs all-time... DePaul has won the last two and now leads the series 4-2... the Blue Demons picked up their 60th home BIG EAST victory and are 60-16 in league games played at McGrath-Phillips Arena... with her four makes from downtown, Brittany Hrynko passes teammate Megan Rogowski for third on all-time list for three-pointers... Hrynko has made at least one three in all 20 games this season... Hrynko eclipsed the 20-point plateau for the seventh time this season and 20th of her career... DePaul held Creighton without a three (0-for-10) in the first half... DePaul's, who tops the nation in scoring, reached 90 points for the 11th time this season.
