DePaul University Athletics
DePaul University
James Madison
Blue Demons Move On, Defeat JMU in First Round
3/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Box Score: DePaul 97, James Madison 67 
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- DePaul made 11 3-pointers and grabbed a season-high 55 rebounds in route to a 97-67 NCAA First Round victory over 11th-seeded James Madison on Friday at the KFC Yum! Center. DePaul advances to the second round and will play either third-seeded Louisville or Central Arkansas on Sunday.
Jessica January led sixth-seeded DePaul with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting. January was one of six Blue Demons to reach double-figures in the win while 11 DePaul players scored in the win.
Jacqui Grant tied a season-high with 15 points and nine rebounds. Mart'e Grays recorded her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Megan Podkowa, Brooke Schulte and Ashton Millender all added 10 points.
Seven different DePaul players knocked down a three pointer while both January and Grays each were 3-for-3 from behind the arc. The Blue Demons shot an impressive 52.4 percent (11-of-21) from 3-point range which is the second-best three-point performance by a DePaul team in the NCAA Tournament. For the game, DePaul 53.6 percent for the game.
Entering the game, James Madison was ranked second in DI rebounding, but it was DePaul who dominated the glass. The Blue Demons owned a 55-39 advantage on the glass. DePaul's 55 rebounds are a season high and the most for the program in an NCAA Tournament game.
DePaul (26-8) made 8-of-13 first-half 3s and shot 22-of-36 (61 percent) from the field to lead 55-30 at the break. Both were season highs for both points and field goal percentage in the first 20 minutes.
Ashley Perez led James Madison (27-6) with 20 points and Jazmon Gwathmey added 19. The loss ended a 20-game winning streak for the Dukes.
James Madison entered the game leading the nation in 3-point field goal defense (23 percent).
A slow start doomed the Dukes, who hit just 4-of-18 shots in the opening quarter. DePaul used a 10-0 run in less than two minutes to take a 15-6 lead midway through the first quarter and led 27-14 after one quarter.
DePaul's eighth 3-pointer capped a 9-0 run in less than 2 minutes that gave the Blue Demons their biggest first-half lead at 28 with 2:15 left. They made four 3s in each of the first two quarters as six players connected from behind the arc.
DePaul stretched their lead in the second half, with a layup from BIG EAST Conference Player of the Year Jenkins extended the lead to 35 (80-45) at 8:01 left.
The Associated Press contributed to this release.
POSTGAME NOTES: DePaul had six players finish in double-figures… DePaul's 24 assists are the most for DePaul in an NCAA Tournament game… previous record was 23 assists against Oklahoma State in 1991… DePaul has recorded 20-or more assists in 22 games this season… DePaul had 11 3-pointers which ties for the second most in an NCAA Tournament game… also had 11 against triples against Oklahoma in 2014… DePaul has recorded 10 or more 3-pointers in 11 games this season… DePaul's .536 field goal percentage marks just the fifth time DePaul has shot over 50 percent in an NCAA tournament game… DePaul shot over 50 percent for the eighth time this season… Jacqui Grant tied a season-high with 15 points… her 10th double-digit scoring effort of the season… tied a season-high with nine rebounds and added an assist… all five of DePaul's starters played limited minutes in the fourth quarter… DePaul outrebounded JMU 55-39… DePaul's 55 rebounds are the most in an NCAA tournament game and a season-high... Mart'e Grays recorded her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds… 10 rebounds are a career-high… Ashton Millender tied a career-high with six rebounds… every available Blue Demon played and all but one scored.
