DePaul University
Chicago State
No. 20 DePaul Passes By Chicago State 88-42
11/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Box Score: DePaul 88, Chicago State 42 
CHICAGO -- Maybe the worst time to face a nationally ranked basketball team is right after a loss.
That's precisely what happened to Chicago State on Tuesday night as No. 20 DePaul came roaring back into the win column with a resounding 88-42 triumph over its South Side adversary at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
Just two days after a loss at No. 5/4 Baylor, the Blue Demons (4-1) got back on track behind Megan Podkowa's 19 points and five rebounds, Jessica January's 14 points, career-high 10 assists and six rebounds. Brandi Harvey-Carr tied a career high with 14 points and added eight rebounds while Chanise Jenkins finished with 13 points.
Chicago State dropped to 0-5 as DePaul harassed the Cougars into 32 turnovers.
January set the tone by opening the game dishing out five assists in the first four minutes and Podkowa scored the first three Blue Demon baskets.
"We wanted to get off to a quick start," January said. "My teammates did a good job running the floor and getting open for my passes. Baylor was a tough game and we wanted to focus tonight on getting better."
DePaul coach Doug Bruno spoke to January about setting up her teammates.
"Jess is very coachable and that was a point of emphasis for her coming into the game," Bruno said. "When you come away with a double-double and that includes 10 assists, that's huge."
DePaul went on a 22-3 run sparked by January's passing, Podkowa's early scoring and eight consecutive points from Jenkins that included back-to-back three-pointers. Harvey-Carr came off the bench to provide two quick baskets inside and some quality minutes.
The Blue Demons expanded a 22-9 lead after one quarter to 32-11 early in the second quarter on back-to-back January baskets. Lauren Prochaska's jumper just before the buzzer provided a 43-21 advantage at halftime.
"When I come into the game, I always try to make an impact for our team," Prochaska said. "Get a rebound, steal, push the ball to help a teammate get open---it helps to keep the energy up."
Prochaska (six points, six steals, four rebounds), Harvey-Carr, Ashton Millender, Tanita Allen and Meri Bennett-Swanson saw considerable action in the first half coming off the bench and played the entire fourth quarter.
"We've got some rebound-watchers on our team," Bruno said. "Lauren made a concerted effort to go and get the ball. It was very refreshing. She's the smallest player on the floor and got rebounds and created havoc with her steals.
"I told the five starters on the bench in the fourth quarter: `That's what I want you to do.' It was a teaching moment for our starters tonight."
There were 30 turnovers in the first 20 minutes of play with Chicago State committing 17 miscues.
A 15-2 DePaul surge featuring three-pointers by Podkowa and Jenkins staked the home team to a 68-27 lead with four minutes left in the third quarter. A Jenkins layup off January's 10th assist gave the Blue Demons a 72-32 cushion after three quarters.
DePaul came into Tuesday night showcasing a high-scoring balanced attack with six players averaging in double figures led by Podkowa at 16.5. Those six were combining to average more than 74 points a game.
In addition, the vaunted DePaul full-court pressure was forcing opponents into an average of 23 turnovers per game. Chicago State had 26 turnovers heading into the fourth quarter.
DePaul is back in action on Friday when the Blue Demons take on Colgate with tipoff set for 7 p.m. at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
