DePaul University Athletics
No. 20/20 DePaul Knocks Off Northwestern 89-66
11/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | DePaul Ball
CHICAGO - No. 20/20 DePaul had it first big test of the season Saturday night and passed with flying colors.
The Blue Demons improved to 3-0 after a resounding 89-66 victory over previously unbeaten rival Northwestern before an enthusiastic McGrath-Phillips Arena crowd.
Jessica January led the charge with 25 points, six rebounds and six assists. Ashton Millender scored 13 points while Kelly Campbell contributed 12 points and seven rebounds. Jacqui Grant finished with 10 points and nine boards and Tanita Allen pitched in with 10 points and five rebounds.
Millender's three-pointer early in the fourth quarter put the home team ahead 71-52. Millender's layup with seven minutes left made it 75-55 and January added two more. Campbell followed with a three and the home team led by 25.
DePaul moved in front by nine midway through the third quarter when the Wildcats narrowed the gap to 47-43. A January basket and a Campbell three-pointer restored a nine-point margin.
January swished a buzzer-beating 30-footer as the Blue Demons closed out the quarter on an 8-2 run for a 67-52 lead---their largest of the game to that point. January scored 11 points in the quarter.
It was back and forth for much of the first half until Northwestern took a 29-25 lead.
But a pair of three-pointers from Claire McMahon and another from Campbell enabled the Blue Demons to close out the first half on a 13-1 run in securing a 38-30 advantage at halftime.
DePaul returns to action on Friday in its Gulf Coast Showcase opener against Western Kentucky at Estereo, Fla.
Notes:
• DePaul finished with 15 3-pointers... has knocked down at least 12 3-pointers in all three of its games this season.
• DePaul had 24 assists on 32 baskets... averaging nearly 24 assists per game this season... January has led DePaul in assists in each game this year... dished out six against Northwestern.
• January has led DePaul in scoring in two of the Blue Demons three games with 25 points... Millender has reached double-figures in all three of DePaul's games.
• DePaul has won the last two series meetings between the two programs... DePaul owns a 18-16 series advantage and is 10-5 in games played in Lincoln Park.
