DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Providence
Hrynko Leads DePaul Past Providence 90-42
1/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO - If this had been a boxing match, DePaul would've come away with a lightning-quick first round knockout.
The Blue Demons opened Sunday's BIG EAST Conference game against Providence with a 29-2 run on its way to a 90-42 victory at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
DePaul improves to 15-6, 7-2 in conference while Providence drops to 5-15, 2-7.
Brittany Hrynko led four Blue Demons in double figures with a game-high 22 points along with nine assists and eight steals that tied a McGrath-Phillips Arena record and also tied her career high.
Megan Podkowa finished with 13 points while Chanise Jenkins and Brooke Schulte each scored 11 points. The Blue Demons forced 30 Providence turnovers leading to 40 points. They outscored the Friars 40-2 in points off turnovers.
DePaul jumped out to a 29-2 lead in the first 10 minutes and never looked back. Hrynko scored in the opening moments and followed up with a steal and layup. Podkowa (twice), Schulte and Jenkins buried shots from behind the arc and Jenkins hit two more baskets. Providence had 13 turnovers and one basket in that stretch.
"We came out with a lot of energy," Hrynko said. "We were getting steals that led to easy baskets. Those steals were a team effort and not just me.
"We passed the ball around the perimeter and made shots. That's what happens when you come out ready to play."
By the time Jenkins weaved her way through three Friar defenders and scored on a layup, the Blue Demons were ahead 41-10.
It was 49-18 at halftime as DePaul went 6 of 13 from three-point range. The Blue Demons' vaunted pressure defense forced the Friars into 19 turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
Bruno made sure his players did not take the Friars lightly.
"That team (Providence) had Seton Hall down by 17 points and St. John's by 12," Bruno said. "This is the same team that beat Villanova. Every game takes on a life of its own."
The challenge over the final 20 minutes was maintaining the focus, defensive pressure and offensive efficiency DePaul exhibited in the first half. Both teams pretty much exchanged baskets the first four minutes. Then DePaul went on a 15-6 burst for a 70-31 lead as Brandi Harvey-Carr scored on a layup after running the length of the floor. At that point with 12 minutes left in the game, Hrynko was within range of a triple-double with 20 points, nine assists and seven steals.
"Coach makes sure we start the second half like it's a 0-0 game," Podkowa said. "Today, we tried to come out with the same energy as the first half. Keeping our focus allowed us to push the lead even higher."
Bruno nodded his head in approval.
"We look at it as a possession-by-possession game," Bruno said. "We're trying to get better with every possession."
The Blue Demons are back on the Doug Bruno Court Friday for a BIG EAST matchup against Georgetown scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
NOTES: This was the 14th meeting between the programs all-time... DePaul holds a 10-4 edge and has won the last four meetings... Hrynko eclipsed 600 assists after totaling nine dimes against the Friars... Hrynko trails only Veronica Ross (672) for tops on DePaul's all-time list... Hyrnko is the only player in Blue Demon history to have 1,700 points, 600 assists, 500 rebounds, 250 free throws and 225 three-pointers... the senior also tied a McGrath-Phillips Arena record with eight steals (Ashley Luke, vs. Cincinnati, Jan. 11, 2004)... after leading 49-18 at half, DePaul moves to 14-0 this season when leading at the break.... the Blue Demons held Providence to 18 first-half points, besting their defensive mark of 19 at Chicago State on Dec. 7... Hrynko reached the 20-point plateau for the eighth time this season... Schulte reached double figures (11 points) for the fifth time in her career... DePaul's 48-point margin of victory ties for the 17th-largest win in program history... nine different players registered an assist for the Blue Demons... DePaul totaled 29 assists on 34 baskets.
