DePaul University
Temple
No. 17/16 DePaul Falls at Temple
12/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
PHILADELPHIA - Despite 21 points from Jessica January and a career-high 18 points from Amarah Coleman, the No. 17/16 DePaul women's basketball team dropped an 84-74 game at Temple on Thursday. The Blue Demons fall to 6-4 on the year, while Temple improves to 6-3.
January added a team-best eight rebounds, dished out five assists and had four steals in the loss. Coleman, scored nine of her 18 points in the final 3:49. Jacqui Grant scored 12 points and had a career-high seven blocks.
DePaul came into the game averaging 11.7 3-pointers but were just 3-of-26 from behind the arc. Coleman was 3-of-7 from 3-point range, while the rest of the team was 0-for-19.
Temple was led by Feyonda Fitzgerald's 25 points. Alliya Butts added 20 points while Donnaizha Fountain finished with 13 points and paced the Owls with 13 rebounds.
DePaul started the game hot, making three of its first four shots. The Blue Demons cooled off and were just 4-of-14 the rest of the quarter and trailed Temple 24-16 heading into the second.
The Blue Demons started the second quarter on an 8-2 run which was fueled by baskets from Coleman, Grant and two from Chante Stonewall. DePaul's swarming defense forced three Temple turnovers and the Owls were just 1-of-6 in the first 5:01 of the quarter.
Trailing by two, Coleman knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Blue Demons a 29-28 advantage with 2:38 to play in the quarter. Coleman's triple ended DePaul's 0-for-8 start from behind the arc.
DePaul went to the locker room up 35-34 behind eight points, four rebounds and five blocks from Grant.
Temple started the third on a 12-5 run and led 48-40 with 5:58 to play in the quarter. The Blue Demons responded and pulled within two (52-50) on a Grant layup but a 3-pointer by Fitzgerald with eight second left in the quarter put the Owls back up five -- 55-50 -- heading into the final 10 minutes of action.
Temple led 66-50, it largest lead of the game, with 6:27 to play. January scored DePaul's next five points and closed the gap to 11 points with just over five minutes to play.
The Blue Demons got within seven points twice in the final four minutes. DePaul used its full-court press while Coleman scored nine points in the closing minutes. DePaul's relentless pressure forced Temple into five of its 20 turnovers in the final minutes, but time ran out on the Blue Demon comeback attempt.
DePaul returns to the court on Sunday, Dec. 18 when it travels North on the Red Line for a 2 p.m. game at City of Chicago-rival Loyola. Sunday's game will be carried on ESPN3.
Notes:
- DePaul was just 3-of-26 from 3-point range… its 11.5 percent from behind the arc was a season-low.
- Temple had a season-best 11 3-pointers… previous-best was nine which it did twice.
- Jessica January eclipsed the 20-point mark for the fourth time this season which is the second most by a BIG EAST player this season.
- Amarah Coleman's 18 points came on 6-of-14 shooting which included a 3-of-7 effort from 3-point range.
- Jacqui Grant swatted a career-high seven blocks… she had five blocks in the first half… previous career-best was three against Appalachian State on Nov. 11, 2016… seven blocks is the most by a BIG EAST player this season… the previous-best was five by Lubirdi Gorden (Seton Hall) against Wake Forest on Dec. 4, 2016… seven blocks are the most by a BIG EAST player since Dec. 9, 2015.
- Brooke Schulte fouled out with 5:27 to play in the fourth. She finished with eight points, five rebounds and three assists… Kelly Campbell, who got her first collegiate start, fouled out with 1:04 to play… she five rebounds, two assists and a point.
- DePaul outscored Temple in the paint 38-16 which included a 24-6 edge in the first half.
- Temple leads the all-time series 2-0 and is 1-0 in games played in Philadelphia.
