DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
Villanova
Three Reach Double-Figures, DePaul Runs past Villanova, 75-47
2/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Chanise Jenkins scored 19 points and led the No. 24 DePaul women's basketball team to a 75-47 BIG EAST Conference win over Villanova on Friday at the Pavilion.
Jenkins, who connected on 8-of-12 from the field, also dished out eight assists.
Jessica January added 17 points and Megan Podkowa scored 12 points. Jacqui Grant paced DePaul (18-7, 10-2 BIG EAST) on the glass with nine rebounds, while Podkowa grabbed eight and dished five assists.
Facing a Villanova team that entered the game with the fewest amount of turnovers of any Division I team, the Blue Demons' swarming defense forced the Wildcats into 12 turnovers. The second most by Villanova (14-9, 7-5 BIG EAST) this season and most in a BIG EAST game.
DePaul held Villanova's leading scorer Caroline Coyer to just 10 points and handed the Wildcats their first double-digit loss of the season.
The two teams battled in the opening 20 minutes and Villanova led by as many as seven (23-16) with 6:43 to play in the second quarter. A 3-pointer by Tanita Allen and jumpers from January and Jenkins tied the game 23 with just under three minutes to play in the second quarter.
DePaul went to the locker room up 27-26 behind six points from Podkowa and January.
The Blue Demons started the third quarter on fire with January and Jenkins combining to score DePaul's first 15 points. The Blue Demons led 42-28 with 6:49 to play in the third.
DePaul continued to extend its lead and outscored Villanova 28-13 in the third quarter.
The Blue Demons took their largest lead of the game -- 75-45 -- on a pair of made free throws by Meri Bennett-Swanson.
DePaul is back in action on Sunday at Georgetown. The Blue Demons and Hoyas tip at Noon (ET) at McDonough Arena. The game will be broadcast on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
Notes: DePaul is in first place in the league and is the conference's only two loss team... Seton Hall and St. John's are the other two teams with four of losses, are in second place and they play on Sunday in South Orange... DePaul is undefeated in BIG EAST play on the road... Jenkins needs three more assists in conference play to move into the league's top 20 all-time... she has 297 assists in Conference play... DePaul has won two straight and six of its last seven... DePaul's win at Villanova is the first for the Blue Demons since 2014... DePaul is now 12-4 in games against the Wildcats.
