DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Notre Dame
No. 16/15 DePaul Gives No. 2/1 Notre Dame a Real Battle
12/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
CHICAGO - No. 15/14 DePaul went toe-to-toe with the No. 1 team in the country in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll and almost pulled off a surprise.
But No. 2/1 Notre Dame finished strong as the Blue Demons came up short 75-61 Saturday night before a full McGrath-Phillips Arena crowd.
DePaul (6-3) was led by Jessica January with 19 points, six rebounds and six assists along with Brooke Schulte with 19 points and six rebounds. Arike Ogunbolwale led Notre Dame (9-1) with 17 points.
Trailing 33-27 at halftime, the Blue Demons opened the third quarter on an 11-5 run to draw even at 38-38 on Kelly Campbell's three-pointer. Schulte started the third quarter with back-to-back threes.
The Fighting Irish responded with a 7-0 burst on the way to expanding its lead to 52-42 after three quarters.
DePaul was down by 13 early in the fourth quarter when Ashton Millender connected from long distance to make it 61-51. Despite January scoring the final three Blue Demon baskets, Notre Dame made its free throws down the stretch to hold off the home team.
DePaul's only losses of the season have come to Connecticut, Notre Dame and Baylor which are all ranked among the top three in both national polls.
Schulte's three early in the second quarter brought her team within 23-20, but the Irish outscored DePaul 9-3 after that for a 32-23 lead. January's jumper one second before the buzzer sent the Blue Demons to their halftime locker room trailing 33-27.
DePaul is back in action Thursday at Temple with tipoff at 8 p.m. on ESPNU.
Notes:
- Jessica January is now tied for Sam Quigley for fourth all-time at DePaul with 487 career assists.
- January now has 503 career rebounds.
- Brooke Schulte recorded double-figures for the third time this season and first since scoring a career-best 21 points vs. Syracuse... January has reached double-digits in seven of DePaul's nine games
- DePaul had a season-low five 3-pointers... entered the game averaging 12.5 triples per game.
- DePaul was 8-of-16 from the free throw line... its 50 percent from the line is a season-low.
- Notre Dame has won the last nine series meetings and improves to 24-19 all-time in the series.
- DePaul is now 13-21 all-time against top 25 teams at McGrath-Phillips Arena.
