DePaul University Athletics
No. 18/17 DePaul Tops Western Kentucky 77-69
11/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | DePaul Ball
ESTERO, Fla. - Maintaining its poise and resolve throughout---but especially in crunch time, No. 18/17 DePaul came through with a 77-69 victory over Western Kentucky Friday in the opener of the Gulf Coast Showcase.
The 4-0 Blue Demons advance to the 4 p.m. semifinal game to face No. 5/6 Baylor (5-1).
Jessica January had her third superb outing in a row, this time finishing with a game-high 25 points along with six rebounds and seven assists. Jacqui Grant contributed a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds while adding three blocks and two steals. Ashton Millender wound up with 11 points.
DePaul had moved in front 71-63 heading down the stretch when Western Kentucky (2-2) went on a 5-0 run to come within a three-pointer of tying it up.
That's when Millender connected on a free throw and Grant fought for the biggest rebound of the game with one minute left. That led to a pair of Grant foul shots and a 74-68 lead with 44 seconds to go. After a Lady Topper free throw, Kelly Campbell closed it out with two swishes from the line.
Amarah Coleman scored all eight of her points in a third quarter that saw DePaul fend off a Western Kentucky comeback bid to emerge with a 67-63 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Blue Demons opened the game slowly with Western Kentucky taking a 19-15 lead after the first quarter. DePaul made just five of its first 20 shots in the opening period.
Behind January, the Blue Demons rallied back in the second quarter, outscoring the Lady Toppers 24-17. They began playing their familiar 'DePaulBall' style with January scoring 13 points by halftime and Millender adding eight points.
DePaul connected on 14 of 40 shots in the first two quarters and finished shooting 25-of-63 (39.7 percent).
Up next is the semifinal showdown with Baylor at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Notes:
- DePaul finished with eight 3-pointers, the first time it hasn't been in double-digits for a game from long distance.
- DePaul had 19 assists on 25 baskets and is averaging nearly 24 assists per game this season… January's seven assists led DePaul for the fourth game in a row.
- January has led DePaul in scoring in three of the Blue Demons four games---putting up 25 points in each of the last three games while Ashton Millender has reached double-figures in all four games.
- January's 25 points enabled her to pass Jenna Rubino for No. 20 all-time in scoring.
- January's three steals tied Allie Quigley for No. 11 all-time---two shy of Melanee Ehrhardt.
